Down to the Wire AGAIN

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 21, 2012) - Make it four consecutive games in which the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals have had a game decided at the final horn or in overtime, as Douglas Williams was unable to hit a three-point shot with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation and John Brown University, who led by 15 points in the second half, survived for an 83-80 win over the Chaps Saturday afternoon in Sooner Athletic Conference action at Rip Griffin Center.

If the shot by Williams, who drained a shot at the horn on Jan. 12 at Oklahoma City for an LCU win, would have went in, it would have capped a tremendous comeback march for the Chaps.  A layup by Abel Galliguez with 3:34 remaining had LCU trailing 73-63.  Trailing 75-69 with 3:01 to go, LCU began their march back with Jeff Ayisire being fouled on a bucket made to setup a three-point play.  Trailing 83-77 with 16 seconds left, Williams made a three-pointer to place the score at 83-80.  The Golden Eagles committed a turnover on an inbounds play and LCU had the possession with 11 seconds remaining.  Tyler Kennedy shot a three-pointer from the left side with less than three seconds remaining, but the ball went in-and-out and the rebound was deflected out of bounds off JBU with 0.2 remaining.  By rule, a catch-and-release shot cannot be made with 0.2 seconds remaining, but Williams did get the shot off before the light came on.

The opening half was full of runs.  Following an opening bucket by Adrian Miller for a 2-0 JBU lead, the Chaps went on an 11-0 run with three three-pointers nailed.  The Golden Eagles would have theirs come midway through the half, as they held LCU without a field goal for a span of 7:23 and went on a 19-0 run filled with four three-point field goals.  Miller tallied 12 points in the first half to give JBU a 38-32 lead.  Rashad Sample led LCU with 13 points in the half.  The two teams combined for 13 three-pointers in the half from nine different players playing a factor into the stat.  Sample had three of the six LCU three-pointers made in the opening half.

The Chaps carried a run from late in the first half into the second half and it developed into a 9-0 run and it placed their deficit at 38-37 two minutes into the second half.  Three-pointers from Thomas Galliguez, Coleson Rakestraw and EJ McWoods resulted in a 9-0 run and LCU was back to a double figure deficit, trailing 51-41 with 13:55 left.  LCU would trail as much as 67-52 (with 6:09 remaining) before they started their rally.  The Chaps had a 24-10 scoring advantage in the paint in the second half, but JBU was 14/25 (56%) from the field in the half (5-of-9, 55.6% from three-point range). 

Sample led all scorers in the game with 22 points and 10 assists for his fifth double-double and his second in as many games.  He was 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range.  Williams finished with 16 points and Ayisire scored all 13 of his points in the second half.  JBU was led by 16-point performances from Miller and Galliguez.  They also received 14 points from Rakestraw and 10 points each from Andy Garcia and McWoods.  JBU shot 50% (28/56) from the field and from three-point range (12/24).  The teams combined for 22 three-pointers.  LCU had 10 on 21 attempts (47.6%).

The loss by LCU marks the third straight game they have lost when playing a game following a win over a ranked team, as LCU was coming in following an overtime win over No.5 Rogers State Thursday.  The Chaps are 9-9 overall and 5-6 in the SAC. Of their nine losses, the Chaps have now had seven single-digit losses and six decided by six or less points. JBU improved to 15-5 overall and 7-5 in the SAC.  The Chaps remain home Thursday and will host University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.