Chaps Start On Empty

LUBBOCK, Texas (February 24, 2011) – A 22-point second half deficit was too much to overcome for Lubbock Christian University, as John Brown University received a double-double from Adrian Miller (16 points and 13 rebounds) and 16 points from Sam Bartlett to defeat the Chaparrals 77-67 Thursday night in Sooner Athletic Conference play at Rip Griffin Center.

LCU came out flat in the first half, shooting just 25.9% (7/27) from the field and 20% (3/15) from inside the arc in the first half.  The Chaps trailed as much as 35-15 in the first half, as JBU out-scored LCU 14-0 in the paint in the half. Andrius Mikutis led JBU to a 35-18 halftime lead with 11 points.  Half of LCU’s 18 first half points came from Tyler Kennedy.  LCU’s starting five of Kenny Hewitt (0/6 0 points), Douglas Williams (0/6, 0 points), Rashad Sample (0/0, 0 points), Al Duvall (1/3, 2 points) and Matt Read (1/3, 3 points) combined to go 2/18 (11.1%) for five points in the first half.

The Chaps gradually got back into the game in the second half.  They trailed 44-24 with just over 16 minutes remaining and responded from a 51-32 deficit with 10:23 remaining with a 9-3 run to cut the deficit to 54-40 with 7:16 to go.  The 9-3 run was part of a scoring charge in which LCU out-scored the Golden Eagles 17-5 to trail 56-49 with 5:20 remaining.  John Brown did not net a field goal over the final 4:50 of the game, but they scored their final 19 points from the free-throw line.  With 30 seconds remaining, a pair of Clay Roberts free throws put LCU down 71-67, but it would be as close as they would get.

The flow of the game was much different between the two halves.  The teams combined for eight fouls and one free throw in the first half (no points in first half came from the line) and then combined for 34 fouls and 49 free-throw attempts in the second half.  LCU shot just 33.3% in the game (20/60), while JBU shot 47.9% (23/48).  The Golden Eagles were 7-of-10 (70%) from three-point range in the first half and finished the game 9-of-13 (69.2%).

LCU was led by 15 points from Kennedy and 13 points from Read and Hewitt.  JBU, who out-rebounded LCU 41-27, received 16 points from Adrian Miller and Sam Bartlett, 13 points from E.J. McWoods and 11 from Mikutis. JBU improved to 22-7 overall and 14-7 in the SAC, while LCU is 17-11 overall and 12-9 in SAC play.

The Chaps final home game with John Copeland at the throne is Saturday at 3 p.m. as LCU hosts Rogers State University.  LCU could end up anywhere between seventh place and fifth place depending on Saturday’s outcomes, as the SAC Tournament invites the top eight teams.