DALLAS (February 7, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University's comeback attempt fell short in a loss to Dallas Baptist University 80-75 in a tense conference matchup at Burg Center on Saturday. 

The Chaparrals outscored the Patriots 49-42 in the second half, but their efforts were not enough to overcome a slow start to the game and the 12-point deficit from the first half. Despite forcing 18 turnovers and grabbing 11 steals, LCU's heroic late efforts could not lead them to victory.

Lubbock Christian has a record of 20-4 overall and 11-3 in Lone Star Conference play. DBU holds a 18-6 overall record and a 12-2 league mark. 

The Chaps struggled early on, allowing an early 8-0 run as they went almost five minutes without scoring. They would shoot just 38 percent from the field in the first half, well below their season average of 50.3 percent. 

DBU continued to press, stretching the lead out past the 20-point mark with just under 10 minutes to play in the half. They trailed by as many as 22 in the period, but a 11-0 run to end the half that featured baskets from Lucas Mercandino, Jett McCasland and Amondo Miller Jr. kept the Chaps within striking distance at the break. Miller and Mercandino were the only two LCU players to make more than one field goal attempt in the first half, as the former led the Chaps in scoring with 10 points. 

The first two baskets of the second half also went to Lubbock Christian, as they cut the deficit to just eight, but the Patriots had stretched the gap out past 20 points again with under 15 minutes to play. LCU still trailed by 19 with less than 10 minutes to go, but they had one final comeback attempt in them. 

A layup from Antonio Pusateri at the 7:10 mark sparked a 9-3 Chap run and they cut the lead to six with 3:58 left in the game. They pulled within three points with just 2:26 to go on a Miller layup, but DBU scored the next three points of the game to create some breathing room and closed out the game with made free throws. 

Miller Jr. led the Chaparrals by scoring 28 points and collecting nine rebounds, while also grabbing three steals. Dow contributed with 13 points and recorded four steals. Mercandino added 10 points, finishing with five field goals made. Pusateri tallied 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, bolstered by his five offensive boards.

GAME NOTES: 
- Miller Jr.'s game-high 28 points were his most since scoring 29 against Dominican on Dec. 20. He has 11 games with at least 20 points this season.
- The Chaps attempted a season-high 25 free throw attempts in the game, shooting 72 percent from the charity stripe overall. They only had more than 25 free throw attempts all of last season.
- Lubbock Christian's 11 steals are their most in a single game since Dec. 31, 2023, when they had 12 against Oklahoma City.
- Miller Jr., Mercandino, and Dow all played the full 40 minutes of the game. For Dow, it was his team-leading seventh time to do so this season. Nordberg also played a season-high 39 minutes.
- The Chaps were out-rebounded by nine by the Patriots. Two of their four losses this season have come in games where they were out-rebounded.

NEXT UP: 
After a span of three games in five days, Lubbock Christian gets what seems like a bit of a break before facing Texas A&M-Kingsville at home on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rip Griffin Center.