Chaps Hold Off Drovers

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 26, 2012) - A 20-point performance from Lubbock Christian University point guard Rashad Sample and a 21-point second half lead was good enough to hold off a double-double from Kyle Hunt (23 points and 14 rebounds) and a comeback attempt from University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, as LCU survived for a 65-61 Sooner Athletic Conference victory Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center.

The Chaps jumped out to a quick start, opening the game on a 15-4 run.  The Chaps dominated inside the paint in the opening 20 minutes, out-scoring the Drovers 20-8 in the paint.  They also took advantage of a 9-4 upper hand in forced turnovers to out-score USAO 15-4 in points off turnovers in the half.  The Chaps shot 48.1% (13/27) and held USAO to 29.6% (8/27) in the opening half for a 41-26 halftime lead.  Sample had 14 of his 20 points in the opening half and Jeff Ayisire added 11 points.  The two combined to shoot 9-of-13 from the field in the half.

Tyler Kennedy nailed a three-pointer with 13:53 remaining in the second half to give LCU a 51-30 lead, but it turned to be the turning point of the game, as USAO responded with a 7-0 run to spark a span of the Drovers scoring the next 27 of 36 points.  The 27-9 scoring surge by USAO cut the LCU lead to 60-57 with 4:48 remaining.  Hunt poured in 14 points in the second half to drive the USAO comeback.  The Drovers cut the deficit to three points on four occasions, but the Chaps answered each time.  With 52 seconds remaining, LCU was able to extend the lead to 64-59 with an alley-oop from Sample to Ayisire, and with six seconds remaining, Sample knocked down a free-throw to keep the contest a two-possession game and seal the win.

USAO hit six three-pointers, but shot just 23.1% (6/26) from beyond the arch.  Norris Rumph and Zacharias Lewis combined to make one three-pointer on 13 attempts.  Hunt led all scorers with 23 points and had a game-high 14 rebounds for his tenth double-double of the season.  He was 7-of-12 from the field, while the rest of his teammates shot 30% (15/50).  The Chaps were fortunate to receive solid inside play, shooting 54.1% (20/37) inside the arch, as LCU was just 3-of-16 (18.8%) from three-point range.  Along with the production from Sample, LCU received 16 points from Anthony Brancato and 13 points from Ayisire.

It is the fifth consecutive contest decided by five or less points for LCU (Chaps are 3-2 in the span). They improve to 10-9 overall and move into seventh place of the SAC with a 6-6 conference mark.  USAO falls to 12-7 overall and 8-5 in the SAC.  LCU closes out a four-game home stand Saturday hosting Southern Nazarene at 3 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.