LUBBOCK, Texas (February 26, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University outshot Western New Mexico and defended their home court on Thursday, winning 87-83 behind a career-high 38 points from senior forward Amondo Miller Jr. 

The teams exchanged the lead 19 times, with the score tied on 13 occasions. The Chaparrals capitalized in the paint, scoring 42 points, while the Mustangs tallied 20 points off the bench. The home team maintained a narrow edge throughout the second half to clinch the win. 

LCU began the first half with a strong offensive display, highlighted by efficient scoring from Miller and Antonio Pusateri. The Chaps displayed effective ball movement, as evidenced by Kendall Dow's key assists, which helped maintain momentum. 

The Chaps hit three of their first four three-point attempts to get ahead early, pulling ahead by four at the 15:42 mark, but the Mustangs quickly closed the gap and tied the game at 17-all. LCU's largest leads of the half came with under seven minutes to play when they went up five on a three-pointer from Miller. 

WNMU responded though, taking their first lead since the game's opening minutes at the 3:03 mark. They still lead with less than a minute to go before the break, but Miller hit an and-one layup and converted the free throw just before the buzzer to send the Chaps into the locker room up by one. 

It set up a back-and-forth battle all through the second half, with both teams refusing to give up the fight. Efficiency from both teams inside the arc and at the free throw line was basically all that mattered in the half. LCU hit only one three-pointer, and WNMU missed all five of their attempts. 

That Chap three came at the 10:09 mark from Miller and gave LCU its largest lead of the game at six points, but the Mustangs quickly responded with four points of their own. Devin Baccas converted a three-point play at the 8:54 mark to keep the momentum with the Chaps, but a cold stretch from the field followed. LCU did not make another basket for the next five minutes and 26 seconds, scoring only from the free throw line in the stretch. 

The basket came from who else but Miller, and tied the game at 78 after WNMU had built a three-point lead. He hit his next three field goal attempts as LCU went up by three with 1:35 left. With the Chaps still up three with 20 second left, Mustang Carson Kelly attempted a three-pointer that rimmed out, and Pusateri hit one more free throw to secure the victory. 

Amondo Miller Jr. scored 38 points, including two three-pointers, and added four rebounds. Antonio Pusateri contributed 19 points and dominated the boards with 16 rebounds. Leo Nordberg recorded five assists and two steals, adding eight points to his performance. Kendall Dow tallied nine points and provided four assists in the game.

GAME NOTES: 
- Miller's 38 points are a new career-high, surpassing his Nov. 2 total of 27 against Augusta. It is also the most points scored in a game by an LSC player this season.
- Pusateri's double-double is his 19th of the year, which leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks second in the nation.
- The Chaps have matched last season's win total of 25, which are the most since the 2021-22 season when they won 27 games.
- The Mustangs shot 51.3 percent in the loss. It is just the second time this season a Chap opponent has shot better than 50 percent and LCU still won. The other was last Saturday's game against UT Permian Basin.
- The Chaps shot 54.4 percent from the field themselves, marking the 14th time this season they have made more than half of their field goal attempts. They are now 13-1 in those contests.

NEXT UP: 
Lubbock Christian will wrap up the regular season at 3 p.m. on Saturday, when they host Sul Ross State at the Rip Griffin Center.