Men's Basketball | 02.13.2026

NO. 11 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (21-4, 12-3 LSC)
vs. TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (8-15, 5-10 LSC)
Saturday, February 14 – 3 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
 
TIPOFF
Lubbock Christian University got back in the win column on Thursday and will look to stay there as they host Texas A&M International at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center for the annual Homecoming Game. The Chaps have just five games left on their regular season schedule, and only one of those teams currently has a winning record. The five teams have a combined winning percentage of just .466 and four of the five rank in the bottom third of the Lone Star Conference standings, including TAMIU, who is 8-15 on the year.
 
BEYOND THE ARC
The Chaparrals are the best team in the conference and one of the best teams in the nation at shooting three-pointers. They are shooting 39.8 percent as a team, which is the seventh-best mark in Division II. Thursday's game against TAMUK marked the ninth time this season they have shot better than 40 percent on threes. Kendall Dow hit seven in the game, which is a new career-high. Dow is shooting 40.4 percent, which is second-best in the LSC, and averaging 2.8 made three-pointers per game, which is tied for the league lead. 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.
 
SHARP-SHOOTERS
LCU is also efficient inside the arc, shooting 50.2 percent on the season, which ranks 11th in the nation and second in  the conference. Lubbock Christian is also ranked 7th 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 .577. Antonio Pusateri leads the team and is second in the LSC in field goal percentage at .590, and Amondo Miller Jr. and Lucas Mercandino are all shooting better than 48 percent as well.
 
BOARDING SCHOOL
The Chaps out-rebounded another opponent on Thursday, grabbing 14 more boards than the Javelinas. They did so without the help of Miller, who ranks sixth nationally with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game. LCU did get another double-double from Pusateri in the game – his 16^th of the season – which ranks second nationally. Pusateri is averaging 10.9 boards per game, which is sixth nationally and puts him on pace for 327 this season. That would be the fourth-most by a Chap in a season in program history. LCU is averaging 37.1 rebounds per game, and they have out-rebounded their opponents 18 time this season, going 17-1 in those contests.
 
IN THEIR DEFENSE
The Chaparrals have held five of their last six opponents below the 70-point mark and four of those opponents to below 40 percent shooting. LCU has played 16 games this season where they limited an opponent to less than 70 points, winning all 16 times. Lubbock Christian opponents are averaging just 67.4 points per game this season, which gives them the third-best defense in the Lone Star Conference. Chap opponents shoot just 41.6 percent from the field, including 30.5 percent from behind the arc.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Lubbock Christian fell four spots in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top-25 poll and is now ranked No. 11. The Chaps have been nationally ranked every week this season, and they are one of just three Lone Star Conference teams in the rankings this week. Eastern New Mexico is at No. 10 and St. Edward's is No. 15. The Chaps have played seven games this season against ranked opponents and are 5-2 in those contests.
 
FAIR OR FOUL
The Chaps are second in the conference and No. 22 nationally in fewest fouls per game. They average just 14.8 personal fouls per contest, barely trailing the league-leader St. Edward's, who averages 14.5. They had a season-low eight fouls called against them on Jan. 31 in the win against Cameron. Of the players averaging at least 20 minutes of playing time per game, Dow has the fewest fouls, with just 18 on the season. LCU opponents also shoot just 66.1 percent from the charity stripe, which is the best mark in the league.
 
IRON MEN
Three of the top six players in the Lone Star Conference in minutes per game are starters for LCU. Miller Jr. leads the way, ranking second in the league and 38th nationally with 35:20 minutes per game. Dow and Pusateri are not far behind at third and sixth, respectively. Dow has played the full 40 minutes in seven games this season. Only Leo Nordberg (22.4) and Reagan Fielder (10.5) are averaging double-digit minutes off the bench, although Nordberg has moved into the starting lineup since Alex Anamekwe was injured in the game against West Texas A&M.
 
WHERE THE HEART IS
This will be the 10th home game of the season for the Chaps, who are 8-1 inside the Rip Griffin so far this year. Including Saturday's matchup with TAMIU, they have three more games on their home court. In their nine home games so far this season, they are averaging 81.3 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting, while limiting opponents to 62.2 points per game on 39.8 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 DUSTDEVILS

• TAMIU averages just 68.4 points per game, which is the second-fewest in the conference
• Caylen Goff Brown leads the Dustdevils in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game but on only 39.5 percent shooting
• Head Coach Mac McConell is in his sixth season leading the Dustdevils, posting a 71-85 record in that time
• The Dustdevils shoot 29.7 percent from beyond the arc, which is the lowest mark in the LSC
• TAMIU has lost six of its last seven games, but did win the Thursday contest 82-77 at Midwestern State

 
THE SERIES WITH THE DUSTDEVILS
Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M International have been meeting on the hardwood every year since the former joined the NCAA Division II ranks for the 2013-14 season. In the 20 total meetings, LCU leads the series 14-6. The last time TAMIU won was in 2022, and their only win ever in Lubbock was the very first meeting between the teams, back in 2014.