Sample's 30 Not Enough

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 14, 2012) - For a second consecutive game, Lubbock Christian University had a game come down to the final horn, but this outcome did not match their Thursday night victory at Oklahoma City University as time expired.  Receiving a rebound off a free-throw miss with four seconds remaining, Lubbock Christian University was unable to push the ball up the floor for a final shot, as Mid-America Christian survived with a 90-88 win over the Chaps Saturday afternoon in Sooner Athletic Conference play.

Rashad Sample had 28 points, of a career-high 30-point performance, come in the second half but it was not enough to help LCU overcome a 10-point second half deficit.  MACU was on fire with their outside shooting in the second half, as they went 8-of-13 (61.5%) from three-point range in the half.  Brandon Williams, who posted 13 of his 17 points in the second half, hit three three-pointers in the second half, including one to give MACU a 46-36 lead with 16:55 remaining.  MACU led 79-71 after Charlie Shorter hit a field goal with 3:33 remaining for a pair of his 14 second-half points.  The Chaps went on a 9-2 run and cut the MACU lead to 81-80 with 1:33 left.  LCU trailed 85-80 with 28 seconds left.  Douglas Williams nailed a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to place the deficit at 89-88 and the Chaps fouled Cameron Langster on the ensuing inbounds.  Langster made the first free throw, but missed the second attempt.  Williams chased down the rebound with under four seconds remaining and passed the ball up the floor to Tyler Kennedy, who was unable to get the shot off before the buzzer.

Both teams were hot from the field in the second half, as they combined for 115 points in the half (after a combined 66 points in the first half).  MACU was 63.3% (19/30) from the field in the second half, while LCU was 57.1% (20/35) from the field.  Shorter, who led MACU with 24 points, had 14 points in the second half, and Langster had 10 of his 14 points in the half as well.  Along with the 28 points Sample had in the half, the Chaps received 14 points in the half from Williams.

LCU trailed 33-30 at the half despite receiving 14 points in the half from Anthony Brancato. Along with the career-high 30 points from Sample, LCU received 18 points from Brancato, 17 points from Williams and 10 from Jeff Ayisire.  Along with the production from Shorter, Brandon Williams and Langster, MACU received 12 points from Camilo Valencia, who was vital with a 6-for-6 shooting performance from the free-throw line in the second half.  MACU was 50% from the field (12/32) in the game and 12-of-27 (44.4%) from long range.

The loss ended a two-game win streak for the Chaps and placed them with an 8-8 overall mark and 4-5 in the SAC. It is the sixth loss (out of eight) by single digits.  MACU improved to 2-8 in the SAC and 7-8 overall.  The Chaps return back to the Rip Griffin Center Thursday to host Rogers State University at 7:30 p.m.