SAN ANTONIO, Texas (December 17, 2025) — Lubbock Christian University used a pair of second-half runs to edge past Central Missouri 70-65 on Wednesday at Bill Greehey Arena in the second game of the River City Holiday Classic.
Trailing by three at halftime and seven early in the second half, the Chaps surged ahead with a 12-0 and cemented their lead with another 10-0 run later in the period. Securing the win with strong performances in the paint, where they scored 30 points, LCU's hot-shooting second half got them back in the win column after a two-game skid.
Lubbock Christian is now 10-2 overall and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference play. Central Missouri holds a 10-4 overall record and is 2-1 in Mid-America Intercollegiate competition.
The game began with the Chaparrals on the board first thanks to a
Kendall Dow three-pointer assisted by
Lucas Mercandino. LCU maintained a lead through the first 10 minutes of the half, but was never ahead by more than eight points.
At the 9:02 mark, Carter Kaifes hit a three-pointer for CMU, sparking a 9-0 run that put the Mules on top. The rest of the half remained neck and neck, but Central Missouri scored the final three points of the half to take the lead, 33-29 into the break.
Antonio Pusateri was the only Chap to reach double-figures in the first half, as LCU shot just 42.9 percent as a team. CMU's slight lead was largely due to their extra offensive chances thanks to the Chaps' eight turnovers and six offensive rebounds allowed.
An early second half three from the Mules put them up by seven, and they still led by that many at the 17:47 mark, when Lubbock Christian started its run. Pustari sparked the offense with an and-one layup, followed by a Chap stop and
Alex Anamekwe dunk. By the end of the run, LCU was up five.
Central Missouri bounced back to re-tie the game at 45, and it was still all knotted up at 52 when the clock showed 8:09. It was at that point that LCU pulled off another extended run, including three-pointers from Mercandino and
Kendall Dow, to lead by 10.
The Mules responded one last time though, scoring six straight points to set up a tense final minute. Forced to the free throw line as CMU stopped the clock, LCU was a perfect 4-4 from the line to close out the game and the 70-65 win.
Amondo Miller Jr. scored 15 points and collected eight rebounds, leading the team in free throws by converting 7 of 8 attempts. Dow also contributed 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers and making six field goals. Pusateri also had 15 points on 6-12 shooting. Mercandino tallied 13 points and recorded five assists while adding two steals and six rebounds.
GAME NOTES:
- The Chaps had their second-best free throw shooting game of the season, hitting on 15 of 18 attempts (.833).
- They shot more than 10 percentage points better in the second half than they did in the first—53.6 percent to 42.9 percent.
- Although they were out-rebounded 16-15 in the first half, the Chaps ended up plus-four in rebounding, marking the 10th time this season they have led in that category.
- They had just 10 assists in the game, which is tied for their second-fewest in a game this season. Their only game with fewer was on Nov. 14 against Colorado School of Mines, when they had nine.
- Anamekwe had a career-high three steals in the win.
NEXT UP:
The Chaps are now headed to The Entertainment Capital of the World, where they will participate in the Holiday Hoops Classic. Their first game in Las Vegas is against Dominican (NY) at 1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday in the South Point Arena.
