NO. 9 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (17-3, 8-2 LSC)
vs. CAMERON (6-13, 3-8 LSC)
Saturday, January 31 – 3 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
 
TIPOFF
Lubbock Christian University finally returns back to the hardwood at 3 p.m. on Saturday to host Cameron at the Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps had last Saturday's contest against DBU postponed due to the winter storms across the state of Texas and then had a bye on Thursday. LCU's return to action will feature their first time this season playing a repeat opponent. The Aggies handed the Chaps their first loss this season on Dec. 13, winning 83-87 in Lawton to stop LCU's nine-game win streak. Lubbock Christian shot a season-low 26.9 percent from beyond the arc in the loss.
 
SHARP-SHOOTERS
As a team, LCU now shooting 49.9 on the season, which ranks 12^th in the nation and leads  the conference. Lubbock Christian is also ranked 11^th 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 .573. Pusateri leads the team and is third in the LSC in field goal percentage at .589, and Amondo Miller Jr. and Kendall Dow are both shooting better than 47 percent.
 
BEYOND THE ARC
LCU's efficiency extends all the way out past the three-point line, where their 39.2 percent shooting ranks 12^th in all of Division II and leads the LSC. Kendall Dow leads the team and is second in the league, shooting 41.7 percent from deep. Dow  also leads the conference with 2.74 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.
 
IRON MEN
Three of the top five players in the Lone Star Conference in minutes per game are starters for LCU. Amondo Miller Jr. leads the way, ranking second in the league and 21^st nationally with 36.0 minutes per game. Dow and Pusateri are not far behind at third and fifth, respectively. Dow had played the full 40 minutes in five straight games heading into the UT Tyler matchup, when he broke his streak by playing 39. Only Leo Nordberg (20.3) and Reagan Fielder (10.5) are averaging double-digit minutes off the bench, although each have seen minutes as starters since Alex Anamekwe was injured in the game against West Texas A&M.
 
FAIR OR FOUL
Lubbock Christian ranks 21^st in Division II and second in the LSC in fewest fouls per game, averaging just 14.8. Only St. Edward's averages fewer in the league at 14.4. When those two teams played on Jan. 2, they both had a season-low eight fouls called. Chaparral opponents help them out even further by shooting just 66.4 percent from the free throw line this season, which is the second-best mark in the conference. Of LCU's players with at least 20 minutes played per game, Dow has the fewest fouls with just 27.
 
PROTECT THE ROCK
The Chaps are currently No. 2 in the conference and 22nd nationally in assist to turnover ratio with a mark of 1.41. They average 16.1 assists and 11.4 turnovers per game, with both marks ranking third in the conference. In games this season where they commit less than 10 turnovers, LCU is 8-1. Dow and Lucas Mercandino both rank in the top 10 individually in the LSC in assist to turnover ratio at 1.8 and 1.7, respectively. Miller leads the team in assists with 73. 
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Lubbock Christian moved up two spots and is back in the top 10 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches top-25 poll, checking in at No. 9 this week. The Chaps are the highest rank LSC team, but are joined in the top 25 by Eastern New Mexico (9), St. Edward's (22) and Dallas Baptist (24). LCU has played against seven ranked teams so far this season, going 5-2 in those games overall.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
This will be the seventh home game of the season for the Chaps, who are 5-1 inside the Rip Griffin so far this year. Including Saturday's matchup with CU, they have six more games on their home court. In their six home games so far this season, they are averaging 77.7 points per game on 52.6 percent shooting, while limiting opponents to 65.2 points per game on 41.9 percent shooting. In their only home loss against ENMU, the Chaps shot 57.1 percent from the field, which is their highest shooting percentage in a loss since March 16, 2021.Officially dedicated on October 9, 2000, the Rip Griffin Center seats 1,950 fans for sporting events.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES

• Cameron's three LSC wins this season came against LCU, Texas A&M International and Angelo State
• CU forward Michael Jones ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 62.1 percent from the field
• The Aggies allow 84.9 points per game, which is the worst mark in the league
• Nathan Kennedy is in his first season leading the Cameron men's basketball team, after most recently serving as an assistant at Arkansas Tech
• CU averages just 32.4 rebounds per game, which is the third-fewest in the LSC

 
THE SERIES WITH THE AGGIES
Cameron's win in the December matchup against Lubbock Christian put them ahead in the all-time series 12-11. It was the first win for the Aggies against the Chaps since 2022, and just their third sine 2016, when LCU moved into the NCAA. CU had built up a large lead against the Chaps in the 20^th century, winning the first nine meetings on the hardwood, including the very first all the way back in 1973.