LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (19-6, 14-3)
vs. UT PERMIAN BASIN (15-9, 11-7)
Saturday, February 15 – 3 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
 
TIPOFF
After a gritty win against Angelo State on Thursday, Lubbock Christian has now won seven straight games and will go for their eighth straight win on Saturday when they host UT Permian Basin for the annual homecoming game. LCU had a seven-game win streak last season, but has not had a streak of eight or longer since the 2021-22 season, when they started the year with 19 straight wins. The Chaps took down the Falcons when the two teams met in Odessa earlier this season, winning 84-74 in overtime. At the time, it was just UTPB's second conference loss.
 
BOARD GAMES
Lubbock Christian grabbed 44 rebounds in Thursday's game compared to Angelo State's 25, led by 11 boards from Ty Caswell. The rebounding margin of 19 was LCU's largest in a game since Nov. 21, 2022, when they had 19 more rebounds than Arlington Baptist. The last time they had that big of a rebounding margin against a D-II opponent was Jan. 2, 2021, when they out-rebounded UT Tyler by 20. On Thursday, 16 of the LCU rebounds came on the offensive glass, which was their second-highest mark of the season. The Chaps average 32.9 rebounds per game, led by Sean Murphy, who averages 6.0 per game individually.
 
THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST
Lubbock Christian has limited seven of its last eight opponents to less than 70 points, and three of their last five to less than 60 points. On Thursday, the Chaps limited the Rams to just 62 points, which is tied for their third-fewest points in a game this season. ASU did not make a single three-pointer in 12 attempts in the game. This season, the Chaps are limiting opponents to 65.7 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the Lone Star Conference. They are just behind Midwestern State, averaging 65.6 points against per game. Chaparral opponents shoot 43.3 percent, including only 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.
 
FIRST OUT
There are two national top-25 polls in NCAA Division II basketball, one voted on by the coaches and one by sports information directors. In both polls this week, the Chaparrals are the first team just outside the rankings. LCU received 37 points in the D2CSC poll, just behind No. 25 West Chester's 46 points. In the NABC poll, they received 24 points, right behind No. 25 St. Mary's with 32 points. LCU was last in the national rankings early in the 2022-23 season, when they were ranked No. 16 in the NABC poll and No. 24 in the D2CSC poll.
 
BEYOND THE ARC
Lubbock Christian shot 32 percent from three-point land against the Rams, who lead the league in three-point defense. For the season, they are shooting 39.1 percent, which ranks No. 6 nationally and second in the conference. Duncan has made 75 this season, which ranks No. 13 in D-II and leads the LSC. His percentage of .436 is third on the team of players with at least 20 attempts, behind Ty Caswell (.449) and Jaylen Thompson, who is shooting 44.8 percent on 29 attempts. 
 
PROTECT THE ROCK
LCU has turned the ball over less than 10 times in 1 5 different games this season and are 10-5 in those contests. Their season-low in turnovers was on the road against Angelo State, when they turned over just twice. The Chaps average just 9.6 turnovers per game, which is the fewest in the conference and ranks No. 11 nationally. The also lead the LSC with a 1.46 assist/turnover ratio, and that mark ranks 20^th in D-II. Individually, Najeeb Muhammad leads the LSC and ranks No. 5 nationally with a 3.37 assist/turnover ratio. Against WNMU last week, Muhammad matched his career high with nine assists and turned it over just once.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
Saturday's contest is the second-to-last at home this season for the Chaps, who are 9-2 at the Rip Griffin Center this season. On their home floor this season, LCU is averaging 81.5 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting. Opponents in the Rip are averaging 65.6 points on just 45.9 percent shooting. Amondo Miller Jr., Duncan, Caswell and Muhammad are all averaging at least 11 points per game at home this year. The Chaps are 153-81 (.649) in home games under head coach Todd Duncan.
 
LOOK AT THE LONE STAR
DBU handled their business against Texas A&M International, wining 98-66 and keeping their spot atop the league standings, and St. Mary's beat Oklahoma Christian to stay right behind them. LCU is still leading the West Division at 9-2 in divisional play. Midwestern State beat UT Permian Basin to stay right on the heels of the Chaparrals. LCU and MSU will meet in the final two games of the regular season in Wichita Falls and Lubbock in a week that could decide the division.
 
THE SERIES WITH THE FALCONS
Lubbock Christian and UT Permian Basin have met 26 times in program history with LCU leading the all-time series 21-5. All of the meetings have come in the 21st century, with the first coming in November of 2002. The Chaps have won eight straight matchups against the Falcons. The last UTPB win was on Feb. 27, 2020 when they scored 106 points on 57 percent shooting inside the Falcon Dome.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS

• Falcon forward Dario Domingos ranks second in the conference with a field goal percentage of .589
• Opponents shoot 74.3 percent from the free throw line against UTPB, which is the highest mark in the LSC. In their win against the Falcons earlier this season, LCU was 16-17 from the free throw line
• Head coach Kyle Tolin is in his second season at the helm of the Falcons with a 32-19 overall record in his time in Odessa
• The Falcons enter Saturday's matchup having lost three straight games. Their last win was on Feb. 1 against Sul Ross
• Alex Matthews leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with 16.2 points per game and 6.7 boards per game