LUBBOCK, Texas (January 30, 2025) - The Lubbock Christian men's basketball team held West Texas A&M to just 35.2 percent shooting, including only 11.8 percent from behind the arc, leading to a 68-53 win for LCU.
 
The Chaparrals (15-6, 10-3) swept the regular season series against the Buffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season, which was the last time LCU won the Lone Star Conference.
 
Four players scored in double-figures for the Chaps, led by Sean Murphy, who had 18 points on a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the field. Murphy's only miss on the night came at the free throw line, and he tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. His partner on the boards was Amondo Miller Jr., who also added 15 points. Najeeb Muhammad helped out with 13 points and four assists.
 
Lubbock Christian's defense limited West Texas A&M to their second-worst three-point shooting percentage of the season with only two makes in 17 attempts. The Buffs actually made their first two three-point attempts of the night and then missed the following 15. Their lowest three-point percentage of 11.1 percent was also against the Chaps earlier this month in Canyon.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Early three-pointers from Ethan Duncan and Miller Jr. gave the Chaps a seven-point lead, but the Buffs responded with an 8-0 run at the 14:00 mark. The teams traded baskets on the following two possessions, but WT's 15-14 lead with 11:55 to go would be their last of the night.  
 
Leading 24-23, Lubbock Christian went on an 8-0 run with 5:07 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Ty Caswell, to lead by nine. The Chaps were 6-for-13 on three-pointers overall in the opening period on the way to a five-point lead at the break.
 
The lead stretch to double-digits early in the second half when Muhammad hit a three-pointer and stayed close to that mark for most of the rest of the game. WT cut it to single-digits with 10:15 left in the game, but LCU responded with a 9-2 run to lead by 16, which was their largest margin of the night.
West Texas A&M made one final push just after the under-four media timeout, with their 8-0 cutting the Chaparral lead to just eight, but LCU responded with their own 8-0 run to close out the game.
 
GAME NOTES
» Sean Murphy led the Chaparrals with a game-high 18 points. It is just the second time this season he has led the team in scoring. He was +22 in his 34 minutes on the floor.
» The Chaps got all but two of their 63 points from their five starters. Kendall Dow's pair of free throws in the first half were the only bench points.
» LCU missed just two free throws on the night, shooting 88.2 percent from the charity stripe. They have shot better than 80 percent in three straight games and 11 times overall this season.
» It was a game played almost entirely in the half court, with only three fastbreak points scored by the Buffs and none by the Chaps.
» Lubbock Christian out-rebounded West Texas A&M 35-31. They are now 11-1 this season when grabbing more boards than their opponent.