LUBBOCK, Texas (January 15, 2026) — No. 5 Lubbock Christian used a big second half to take down No. 16 West Texas A&M 72-57 at the Rip Griffin Center on Thursday. 

The Chaparrals outscored the Buffs 37-23 in the final 20 minutes of play to secure the victory. The home team dominated in the paint with 36 points and recorded six blocks, which helped to limit the top offense in the Lone Star Conference. 

Lubbock Christian stands at 16-2 overall and 7-1 in Lone Star play. With Dallas Baptist losing to St. Mary's tonight, LCU is now tied for first in the league. West Texas A&M is 14-4 overall with a 6-2 record in the Lone Star Conference.

The Chaps controlled the game early, scoring seven straight points and keeping the Buffs off the board for the first 3:21 of the game. Alex Anamekwe contributed heavily early with five points in the first 10 minutes, but WT's offense finally found some rhythm and used a 10-2 burst to go up by five with 9:37 left in the half. 

Although they shot the ball extremely well in the opening half (53.6 percent) that efficiency did not extend beyond the arc, where they were 1-for-10. That one make came from Kendall Dow at the 5:34 mark and sparked an 11-0 Chaparral run that put them back ahead, by as many as seven points. 

WT then responded again with a 6-2 run to close the half, leaving the teams just one point apart as they went to their locker rooms. 
 
The Chaps shot 53.6 percent from the field again in the second half, but this time was helped by their three-point shooting, where they were 5-for-11. A three from Amondo Miller Jr. was part of an 8-0 run by LCU to start the second half that put them in control. The Buffs would not draw closer than six for the rest of the game. 

Back-to-back three-pointers from Reagan Fiedler and Dow with just over 10 minutes left put Lubbock Christian ahead by 14, and another three from Dow with 3:13 to play gave them their largest lead of the game at 16. West Texas A&M scored only four points in the final six minutes as LCU won 72-57. 

Antonio Pusateri led the team with 21 points, converting 10 of 13 field goals, and added five blocks. Kendall Dow scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers and finishing with seven field goals overall. Lucas Mercandino contributed 15 points, shooting 7 for 9 from the field and assisting three times. Amondo Miller Jr. posted 12 rebounds and distributed seven assists.

GAME NOTES:
- The Chaparrals have now won four straight matchups against WT. Although the Buffs still lead the all-time series 26-14, LCU now leads 12-11 in games played since 2014, when the Chaps moved to the NCAA.
- This was LCU's fourth game in the last five against a nationally-ranked opponent. They have won all four of them, and are 5-1 against ranked opponents this season. 
- The Chaps held the Buffs to just 57 points, well below their season average of 88.5 coming into the game. WT has only been held to a lower game total once this season, against No. 1 Washburn.
- Miller's 12 rebounds gave him his sixth double-double of the season, and he also matched his career-high in assists with seven for a third-straight game.
- Pusateri's five blocks are the most by a Chap in a game since Dec. 15, 2018, when Brennan Fowler had six. It is also tied for the second-most in a game this season by an LSC player.
- Leo Nordberg finished with a career-high six rebounds.
- The Chaps' six blocks as a team are their most in a game this season. 

NEXT UP: 
The Chaps will play at home again this weekend, taking on No. 24 Eastern New Mexico at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center.