GOLDEN, Colo. (Novemeber 13, 2026) — Junior forward
Hayden Abdullah's fadeaway jumper beat the buzzer in overtime to lead Lubbock Christian University past MSU-Denver in a back-and-forth battle at Lockridge Arena.
The game included 15 ties and 13 lead changes, with the teams even at 29 at halftime and 67 at the end of regulation. The Chaps finished with 16 assists, forced 20 turnovers and held a 12-6 advantage in second-chance points.
The Chaps improve to 3-1 overall with the win, beating the Roadrunners in their season-opener.
LCU fell into an early 10-2 deficit and had to claw back into the game after a slow start offensively. MSUD was still up by seven at the midway point of the half thanks to strong shooting from behind the arc, but a three-pointer by Brennan Ballard at the 9:07 mark sparked a 7-0 Chaparral run.
They drew even for the first time with four minutes left on a jumper by
DeAndre Lott before MSUD had another 5-0 burst. LCU tied it up again at 27, and
Leo Nordberg followed with a steal and layup to put the Chaps ahead 29-27 for their first lead of the game with 1:35 remaining, The Roadrunners answered with a dunk and the half ended tied 29-29.
Lubbock Christian controlled the opening of the second half, getting ahead by four with back-to-back buckets from Lott and Ballard. MSU-Denver answered again though and were ahead by six with 9:44 left to play.
The Chaps erased the 49-43 deficit with a 9-0 run, getting a Ballard layup, a Lott steal followed by a layup and free throw, and a
Rylan Houck three-pointer to move ahead 52-49. Houck added another three-pointer, Nordberg hit one during the next stretch, and Abdullah's two free throws broke a 62-62 tie for a 64-62 lead with 2:33 left.
Nordberg's tip-in gave the Chaps a 67-62 lead with 1:05 remaining, but MSUD scored the next five points to tie it up. LCU had the ball with 20 seconds left, but did not get an open look to win the game in regulation.
Abdullah got a dunk off the tipoff in in the extra period, but the Roadrunners quickly went up three. Nordberg tied it at 74-74 with a three-pointer off Lott's assist, and Lott later answered MSUD's 77-75 lead with a layup off an assist from
Dallas Jones with less than a minute left. Coban Porter missed a three-pointer with 25 seconds left, giving the Chaps another chance to win it. Adbullah got off the shot in time to win the game.
Lott scored 26 points on 10 field goals and added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Abdullah finished with 16 points, four rebounds and a block. Nordberg added 14 points, four assists and three steals. Jones recorded six assists and scored three points.
GAME NOTES:
- This was the Chaps' first overtime game since March 8, 2025, when they beat WT in the Lone Star Conference Tournament. They have not lost an overtime game since Feb. 12, 2022, and have won each of their last six overtime games
- Freshman guard Lott scored a game-high 26 points to set a new career high. His previous career high was 20
- Junior forward Abdullah's 16 points are his most in a Chaparral uniform. The last time he scored more than 16 was Feb. 4, 2026, when he had 17 against Davis & Elkins for West Liberty
- Oddly enough, the Chaps' last true buzzer-beater also came with Abdullah on the floor, but for the opposing team.
Alex Anamekwe's tip-in before the horn led the Chaps past Abdullah's former team, West Liberty, on Dec. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas
- The Chaps shot a season-low 57.1% (16-28) from the free-throw line. Nordberg was the best at the free-throw line, going a perfect 4-for-4
- This was the first time this season the Chaps have won when their opponent shot better than 50 percent, making them 1-1 in those games. Last season, they were 2-4 in those contests.
NEXT UP:
The Chaparrals will face a quick turnaround, taking on host Colorado School of Mines at 7 p.m. MT on Saturday at Lockridge Arena.
