LUBBOCK, Texas (February 14, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University's hot shooting led them to a dominant win against Texas A&M International University 96-57 at the Rip Griffin Center at the annual homecoming game on Saturday. 

The Chaparrals shot a scorching 63.6 percent from the field and dominated in the paint with 52 points. Four different LCU players finished in double-figures, led by 34 points from Amondo Miller Jr., who returned after missing Thursday night's contest. 

Lubbock Christian has a record of 22-4 overall and 13-3 in the Lone Star Conference. Texas A&M International falls 8-16 overall and 5-11 in Lone Star competition.

The Dustdevils kept the game close in the opening eight minutes, but a 9-2 run from the Chaps that featured a Jett McCasland three-pointer and four free throws from Lucas Mercandino stretched LCU's lead to double-figures for the first time. Mercandino made a big impact at the charity stripe in the opening period, taking 10 free throws and making nine of them. He had 13 first half points. 

The Chaps had several other scoring bursts in the first half to try and distance themselves, but the lead never got too large, as TAMIU shot 50 percent from the field themselves through the first 20 minutes. The lead's largest point was 15, and the teams headed into the locker room with a 13-point gap.

Lubbock Christian opened the second half with a quick three-point play from Miller Jr., setting the tone for a dominant stretch. He scored 15 points in the second half total. Buckets from Kendall Dow and Antonio Pusateri with just under 15 minutes to play got the lead past the 20-point mark for the first time. 

At the 12:53 mark, LCU started an 11-2 run, which included a four-minute stretch that they kept the Dustdevils without scoring. Leo Norberg's three-pointer with 4:49 left to play pushed the lead to 30 points, and they Chaps lead by as many as 38 before the horn sounded to end the game.

Miller Jr. scored 34 points, converting all seven of his free throw attempts to lead the offensive effort. Lucas Mercandino added 13 points and facilitated the play with seven assists while also securing two steals. Pusateri posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, contributing significantly with two blocks.

GAME NOTES:
- Miller's 34 points are the third-most by an LSC player in a game this season, but the No. 1 spot is held by... himself, when he scored 37 against Augusta in the second game of the season
- LCU's 63.7 shooting was their highest in a single game this season. The last time they shot better than that mark was Feb. 3, 2024, when they shot 66 percent against Cameron
- Baccas recorded his first collegiate double-figure scoring performance, pouring in a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting
- The Chaps have held five of their last six opponents under 70 points and three of them to less than 60.
- Pusateri's double-double was his 17th of the season, which is the second-most in all of Division II

NEXT UP: 
Lubbock Christian will head back out on the road for their final two away games of the regular season. The first of the trip is at Angelo State at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Junell Center in San Angelo, Texas.