NO. 6 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (14-2, 5-1 LSC)
vs. MIDWESTERN STATE (4-8. 2-3 LSC)
Thursday, January 8 – 7:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)
 
TIPOFF
It has been more than a month since Lubbock Christian has played a game on its home court, and that road stretch wraps up on Thursday when they take on Midwestern State at 7:30 p.m. in Wichita Falls. LCU enters the contest on a five-game winning streak, and the last three of those wins have come against ranked opponents. On the other side, Midwestern State has suffered five-straight losses heading into Thursday night's matchup.
 
IN THEIR DEFENSE
On Sunday, Lubbock Christian played its best defensive game of the season, holding St. Mary's to just 30.6 percent shooting from the field. It was the Rattlers' lowest single-game shooting mark since Feb. 5, 2022, when they shot 28.6 percent against Texas A&M International. Overall this season, LCU opponents are shooting 42 percent from the field, which is the fourth-best mark in the Lone Star Conference. The Chaps average 6.3 steals and 2.7 blocks per game. In last Friday's game against St. Edward's, Leo Nordberg had five steals, which is the most by a Chap in a single game since 2023.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
Lubbock Christian junior forward Antonio Pusateri was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday. This is the third time this season Pusateri has earned one of the conference's weekly awards, but his first as Offensive Player of the Week. Pusateri averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 assists to lead the No. 6-ranked Chaps to a pair of conference road wins against No. 13 St. Edward's and No. 20 St. Mary's. The California native had a double-double in each game, including a career-high 32 points on 66.7 percent shooting in an 88-71 win over SEU.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Chaparrals moved back up two spots in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll and are now ranked No. 6. Four of the five teams ranked ahead of LCU are still undefeated this season. The Chaps received exactly 300 points in this week's poll. Three other LSC teams are currently ranked, including St. Edward's (No. 17), West Texas A&M (No. 20) and St. Mary's (No. 23). Lubbock Christian is 4-1 against ranked opponents this season, including three straight wins against them.
 
BOARD GAMES
Lubbock Christian was out-rebounded for just the second time this season against St. Mary's. They are averaging 37.6 rebounds per game this season, which ranks sixth in the LSC. Pusateri leads the Chaps on the glass and is one of the top rebounders in the nation. His 176 rebounds are the most in all of Division II, as are his 10 double-doubles. On 12/20 against Dominican, he pulled down 21, which is the third-most in a game this season by a D-II player. He is currently on pace to break LCU's single-season rebound record of 372, which was set by Ron Ranger in 1991.
 
SHARP-SHOOTERS
As a team, LCU now shooting 49.8 on the season, which ranks 20^th in the nation and second in the conference. Lubbock Christian is also ranked 20th 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 .570. Pusateri leads the team in field goal percentage at .571, and Amondo 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 39.4 percent shooting ranks 18th in all of Division II and leads the LSC. Kendall Dow leads the team, shooting 43.2 percent from behind the arc, and Miller Jr. and Alex Anamekwe are both shooting better than 40 percent as well. 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.
 
ON THE ROAD… AGAIN
Lubbock Christian has played three times as many games away from home as they have inside the Rip Griffin Center this season. They are 4-1 in true road games and 6-1 in neutral site games. In their five true road games, the Chaps are averaging 80.2 points per game on 49.0 percent shooting while limiting opponents to 71.8 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting. Their one road loss came against Cameron.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

• MSU is allowing an average of 81.6 points per game, which is the third-most in the conference
• Five different Mustangs are averaging double-figures, and the team is scoring 78.7 points per game
• Head Coach Jon Trilli is in his first season leading the Mustangs after previously playing for MSU in 2009-11 under current Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland
• Midwestern State has the fourth-worst free throw percentage in the league, shooting 66.7 percent from the charity stripe
• MSU's last win came on Dec. 5 against UT Permian Basin, who they beat 96-86 in Wichita Falls

 
THE SERIES WITH THE MUSTANGS
Lubbock Christian and Midwestern State first met on the hardwood all the way back in 1972, and they have faced off 43 times since then. MSU leads the all-time series 27-17, but in the last 10 games, LCU has won seven matchups. Last year, they split the two matchups, with each team winning on their home floor.