CANYON, Texas (Jan. 5, 2025) – Lubbock Christian limited No. 4 West Texas A&M to just 48 points on 28.3 percent shooting Sunday in the First United Bank Center, beating the Buffs by 20 in the first Rivalry on the Range matchup of the season.
 
WT's 48 points was their lowest total since Feb. 15, 2014, when they scored 47 in a home game against Angelo State. The Buffs were limited to just two made three-pointers all game – one in each half – shooting 11.1 percent from behind the arc from the game. It is the lowest an LCU opponent has shot on three-pointers since Nov. 27, 2021, when they held Chaminade to just 4.2 percent (1-24) shooting from behind the arc.
 
The Chaparrals (10-4, 5-1) had two players score in double-figures, led by Ethan Duncan with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Sean Murphy tacked on 10 points and six rebounds and Amondo Miller Jr. added nine points and 11 rebounds.
 
Lubbock Christian is now 3-0 against ranked teams this season. All three ranked opponents have been ranked inside the top 10 and all three wins have come on the road.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It wasn't a wire-to-wire win, as the Buffs scored the first point on a made free throw,  but Duncan nailed his first three-pointer at the 18:43 mark and LCU would never trail again. The Chaps got the lead to double-figures with 13:12 left in the half on a jumper by Miller Jr. and then went on a 13-0 run at the 10:25 mark, culminating in a bucket from Jaylen Thompson, to increase the lead to 33-7.
 
WT had a quick 7-0 burst with just over two minutes left in the half to pull within 16, but Jaylen Thompson hit a three-pointer on LCU's last possession and the Chaps led by 19 at the break.
 
The Chaps' hot shooting from Friday night carried over into the first half as they shot 60.7 percent from the field, including 6-of-10 on three-pointers. They shot exactly 50 percent (26-52) for the game, moving to 7-0 on the season when they shoot 50 percent or better.
 
Lubbock Christian scored the first four points of the second half as well and looked in position to cruise to another LSC road win, but they entered a cold stretch offensively that lasted more than eight minutes. West Texas A&M scored 13 points in that time, cutting the lead all the way back to just 10 points.
 
Ty Caswell finally broke the Buff run with an and-one layup and after another Chap stop, Najeeb Muhammad drilled a three-pointer to give LCU some breathing room. Lubbock Christian led by as many as 23 late in the second half on the way to win.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian was out-rebounded 15-9 on the offensive glass, but outscored the Buffs 9-7 in second chance points.
» Trey Thompson played a career-high 23 minutes in the win. He scored three points, assisted two baskets, pulled down four rebounds and grabbed two steals.
» This is the second time this season the Chaps have held an opponent to less then 50 points in a game. The other was also in the First United Bank Center, in the opening game of the season, when LCU held Missouri Western to just 48 points.
» Ethan Duncan led the Chaparrals with a game-high 19 points. It is his 10^th game in double-figures this season and the sixth time he has led the Chaps in scoring.
» The Chaps have now won two-straight games against the Buffs in the First United Bank Center after last season's 72-67 victory. It is the first back-to-back wins over the Buffs for LCU since the 2021-22 season, when they won both the home and road matchup.
» Lubbock Christian got a game-high 11 rebounds from Amondo Miller Jr. It is his second double-digit rebound game of the season and the sixth time he has led LCU in rebounding.
 

This article was partially created using technology provided by Data Skrive.