Chaps Fall In SAC Opener

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (December 1, 2011) - John Brown University used a 71.4% second-half shooting percentage, a 50-28 rebound advantage and double-doubles from Andy Garcia (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Adrian Miller (20 points, 12 rebounds) to hand Lubbock Christian University an 81-65 loss to open the Chaparrals conference schedule in the Sooner Athletic Conference Thursday night.

The Chaps were off to a good start in the opening half.  Tyler Kennedy, who hit four three-point field goals in the game, hit his first in the opening half to give LCU a 17-12 lead with just under ten minutes remaining in the first half.  They would go the next 5:18 without a point and a total of 7:18 without a field goal.  JBU took advantage of the LCU dry spell, going on a 10-0 run and closing out the first half out-scoring them 20-7 to take a 32-24 lead.

The second half had a series of runs.  LCU battled back from a 35-24 deficit to cut the Golden Eagles lead to 48-44 with 12 minutes remaining. JBU pushed the lead back to a 10-point lead (54-44) with 10:51 to go, but again, LCU rallied back.  An 11-5 advantage for LCU helped the Chaps get within four points (59-55 with 7:51 remaining), but they were unable to get any closer and JBU took advantage of 28 second half free-throw attempts to hold off any late rally.  They also took advantage of a five minute stretch LCU endured after they cut the deficit to four in which they went scoreless.  JBU recorded one field goal over the final 5:30 and scored 13 of their final 15 points from the free-throw line.

Garcia scored 15 of his team-leading 19 points in the second half.  The Golden Eagles out-rebounded LCU 28-15 in the opening half and 50-28 in the game, capitalizing with 13 offensive rebounds.  JBU was 15/21 from the field (71.4%) in the second half and finished the game 27/54 (50%).  The Chaps shot 33.9% (21/62) from the field in the game and had 11 of their 21 field goals from beyond the arc to match a season-high in three-pointers.  Rashad Sample knocked down a career-high four three-pointers for LCU and led the Chaps with 21 points.  Douglas Williams had a double-double in the loss for LCU with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Coleson Rakestraw (15 points) and Abel Galliguez (12 points) joined Garcia and Miller in double-figures for the Eagles.

The Chaps remain winless on the road and fall to 0-4 in road games.  It was their first loss by more than four points on the season.  LCU falls to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.  JBU evens their conference mark at 1-1 and they are 8-1 overall.  LCU continues on the road Saturday, as they battle Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla. at 3 p.m. from the Claremore Expo Center.