Chaps Doomed By Turnovers

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (November 18, 2011) - Eddie Oropeza led Lubbock Christian University with a career-high 14 points, but his performance was not enough to help the Chaparrals overcome 36 turnovers in a 74-71 defeat to Our Lady of the Lake University in the Saints home opener and their opening game of the 2011 Halo Classic Friday night.

LCU made their opening bucket, with Douglas Williams connecting for a 2-0 lead, but the Chaps would end up playing from behind the remainder of the game following a quick 5-0 run by the Saints.  The two teams combined for 54 fouls and 44 turnovers last season when the two teams met for the Chaps home opener, and this meeting was not much different.  The teams combined for 59 turnovers and 49 fouls Friday night.  LCU committed 21 of their 36 turnovers in the first half.  They allowed for an 8-2 run by the Saints over a four minute stretch to push the Saints lead to 22-12 in the opening half.  OLLU held a double-figure lead until LCU closed out the final four minutes of the first half with a 6-1 run to cut their deficit to 29-24 before an eventual 33-26 halftime deficit.

OLLU put their lead back into double-figures in the second half and led as much as 43-32 before LCU used a 15-4 run sparked by three-point field goals from John English and Oropeza to tie the game at 47-47 with less than 12 minutes remaining.  LCU was unable to regain the lead while the Saints pushed out to an eight point advantage 70-62 with two minutes remaining.  The Chaparrals were unable to get any closer than a three-point deficit in the final two minutes of play.

The Chaps entered the game second in the NAIA in three-point shooting percentage, but they could not support the statistic in the game.  They went 0-for-5 from long range in the first half and went 3-for-13 (23.1%) in the game.  The Chaps out-shot the Saints in the game, as LCU went 24/56 (42.9%) from the field and OLLU was 28/75 (37.3%).  Rashad Sample joined Oropeza in double figures in points, as Sample had 12 points.  OLLU was led by a game-high 16 points from Lo Ron Smith, who just missed a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds.

Both teams had their record go to 2-2 with the end result.  The Chaps, who are 2-0 at home this season, are now 0-2 on the road this season.  LCU will remain in San Antonio Saturday and will face Univ. of St. Thomas (Texas) at 2 p.m.