NO. 5 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (16-2, 7-1 LSC)
vs. NO. 24 EASTERN NEW MEXICO (14-3, 6-1LSC)
Saturday, January 17 – 3 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
 
TIPOFF
Although they got a big win over rival West Texas A&M on Thursday, there is no rest for Lubbock Christian, as they now turn their attention to No. 24 Eastern New Mexico, who they host at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps are looking for their eighth straight win, dating back to the Dec. 17 win against Central Missouri. After Dallas Baptist's loss to St. Mary's on Thursday, LCU now finds itself in a tie for first place in the Lone Star Conference standings.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
In Thursday's Rivalry on the Range matchup, the Chaparrals turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season. They limited the Buffs, who were averaging 88.5 points per game, to just 57, and handed them their lowest field-goal percentage (.344) of the season. They also had a season-high six blocks in the game. This season, LCU is limiting opponents to 68.0 points per game, which is the third-best mark in the conference. Opponents are shooting 41.5 percent against the Chaps.
 
ONES TO WATCH
Lubbock Christian forwards Amondo Miller Jr. and Antonio Pusateri were named to the 2026 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, Small College Basketball announced on Thursday. The award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within small college basketball. The Top-100 list includes some of the top player from NCAA Division II and III, NAIA Division I and II, the USCAA and NCCAA. The Bevo Francis Awards Committee, which is made up of 20 coaches, will consider season statistics, individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements when they eventually select a winner.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Chaparrals moved up one spot in the National Association of Basketball Coaches national poll and is now ranked No. 5. Three of the four teams ranked ahead of them are still undefeated on the year, including top-ranked Washburn. Eastern New Mexico is also ranked in this week's poll at No. 24. Another three Lone Star Conference teams are nationally ranked, including West Texas A&M (16) St. Edward's (18) and Dallas Baptist (25). St. Mary's is also receiving votes. By the end of the week, LCU will have played five ranked teams in their last six games. They are 5-1 against ranked opponents so far this season.
 
STARTING STARS
Now more than halfway through the regular season, three Lubbock Christian players – Amondo Miller Jr., Kendall Dow and Antonio Pusateri – rank in the top 10 in the LSC in minutes per game. Miller Jr.'s average of 35.9 per contest ranks 15th in the nation. He has only played less than 30 minutes twice this season, and he has played the full 40 two times. Because LCU plays its starters so much, they rank 288th out of the 289 Division II teams in bench points per game with just 6.61. Only Leo Nordberg is averaging more than 10 minutes per game off of LCU's bench, and Nordberg will now slid into the starting lineup after Alex Anamekwe's injury Thursday.
 
SHARP-SHOOTERS
As a team, LCU now shooting 49.6 on the season, which ranks 15^th in the nation and leads  the conference. Lubbock Christian is also ranked 14th nationally in Effective FG%, which is a statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points, while all other field goals only count for two points. Their EFG% so far this season is .568. Pusateri leads the team in field goal percentage at .573, and Miller Jr. is also shooting better than 50 percent this season.
 
BEYOND THE ARC
LCU's efficiency extends all the way out past the three-point line, where their 38.6 percent shooting ranks 19^th in all of Division II and leads the LSC. Dow leads the team, shooting 41.8 percent from deep, and Miller Jr. is also shooting better than 40 percent. Dow  also leads the conference with 2.6 made three-pointers per game. LCU matched a program record with 20 made three-pointers – including 12 in the second half – earlier this season against Fort Lewis. The Chaps have shot better than 50 percent from behind the arc three times this season, including a season-high 64.7 percent on Nov. 2 against Augusta.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
This will be the sixth home game of the season for the Chaps, who are 5-0 inside the Rip Griffin so far this year. Including Saturday's matchup with ENMU, they have seven more games on their home court. In their five home games so far this season, they are averaging 77.2 points per game on 51.8 shooting, while limiting opponents to 61.2 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting. Officially dedicated on October 9, 2000, the Rip Griffin Center seats 1,950 fans for sporting events.
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS

• Eastern New Mexico has lost two of its last three games, but beat Midwestern State 84-60 in Wichita Falls on Thursday
• Former Chap standout guard Lloyd Daniels (2019-22) is now an assistant coach for the Greyhounds
• The Greyhounds rank second in the league (behind LCU) in field goal percentage, shooting 49.1 percent from the field
• ENMU's three losses are against St. Mary's, St. Edward's and Fort Lewis
• Greyhound forward Jose Murillo leads the conference in field goal percentage at 63.4 percent

 
THE SERIES WITH THE GREYHOUNDS
Lubbock Christian and Eastern New Mexico have met a whopping 74 times on the hardwood, dating all the way back to 1971. The series has been very back and forth with win streaks by both teams. LCU has been on the most recent streak, winning all three matchups last season, including an overtime victory in the LSC Tournament, and now leads the all-time series 38-36.