Chap-tacular Upset

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 19, 2012) - Make it seven consecutive games in which a contest between Lubbock Christian University and Rogers State University was decided by single digits, and this one needed overtime to decide the outcome.  Rashad Sample produced a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists and LCU upset No.5 Rogers State 92-87 in Sooner Athletic Conference action inside Rip Griffin Center Thursday night.

If LCU would have lost, it would have been another lead against the Hillcats they let slip away.  In their prior meeting on Dec. 3, LCU let a 62-51 lead slip away in the second half.  This time, LCU opened the game 6-of-8 from beyond the arc (three from Tyler Kennedy) and the Chaps had a 32-13 lead with 10:42 remaining in the first half.  The Hillcats did respond with a 12-2 run late in the half and eventually cut the LCU lead to 44-37 heading into halftime.  The Chaps capitalized on 11 Hillcat turnovers in the half, leading to a 12-4 LCU advantage in points off turnovers.  The Chaps were 7-of-12 (58.3%) from three-point range in the half.  Anthony Brancato had 13 points and nine rebounds in the first half and Kennedy added 11 for the Chaps.  Donald Williams carried RSU in the half with three three-pointers for a 13-point half.

LCU built the lead back to double figures in the second half, pushing the lead to 54-41 with 17:14 remaining, but it was short lived.  RSU responded with a 14-2 run over a four minute span to cut the Chaps lead to 56-55.  Kendrell Thompson nailed a three-pointer with 11 minutes remaining to give RSU a 59-58 lead and it was the first of an eventual 12 lead changes.  Trailing by their largest deficit at 64-60 as eight minutes remained, Kennedy hit consecutive three-point buckets to ignite an 8-0 run placing LCU up 68-64 with six minutes remaining.  The two teams traded one-point leads three times in the final 1:04 and a jumper by Williams placed the Hillcats up 81-80 with 13 seconds remaining.  A deflected ball out of bounds against the Hillcats in the Chaps offensive end led to an inbounds with five seconds remaining.  Sample was tripped up and fouled dribbling out from the corner by Maurice Rutherford and it resulted in a one-and-one free-throw situation for Sample with three seconds remaining.  He made the first, but missed the second resulting in an 81-81 tie at the end of regulation.

The momentum was in the hands of RSU, who shot 64% (16/25) from the field in the second half (4-of-7 from three-point range), but layups in overtime by Sample and Jeff Ayisire of LCU provided the Chaps an 88-84 lead in overtime with 1:35 left.  Sample closed out the game and put it out of reach with 12 seconds remaining with a pair of free throws for the 92-87 lead.  The Chaps were 4-of-6 (66.7%) from the field in overtime.

The Chaps dominated the game in the paint with a 40-22 scoring advantage in the paint. They won despite being out-shot by RSU. The Hillcats were 56.9% (29/51) in the game from the field and 9/17 (52.9%) from three-point range in the loss.  LCU was 49.2% (31/63) from the field and 9/19 (47.4%) from long range.  They were solid from the line at 87.5% (21/24).  LCU had 12 more shot attempts due in part to 13 offensive rebounds and a 32-28 rebound advantage.

Nine players combined for double figures in points, with Sample standing with the only double-double in the game.  RSU received a game-high 20 points from Donald Williams, along with 18 points from Thompson, 14 points from Justynn Hammond and 13 points from Larry Cox.  The Chaps had five players with at least 13 points, as Douglas Williams and Tyler Kennedy each had 17 points, Brancato finished with 16 points and Ayisire had 13 points to join Sample.  Donald Williams had four three-pointers for RSU (4-of-6) and LCU received five from Kennedy (5-of-9).

The game was the first overtime game of the season for the two teams and the first for both teams since Rogers State defeated LCU 104-103 in triple overtime of a SAC Tournament contest last season.  The Chaps, 9-8 overall and 5-5 in the SAC, are now 3-3 against ranked opponents and 2-2 against teams ranked in the top-10.  RSU falls to 15-3 overall and 8-3 in the SAC.  LCU, who defeated RSU for just the second time out of 12 all-time meetings, remains home Saturday and they will host John Brown University at 3 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.