Duncan Debut Steer'ed Wrong Way

TYLER, Texas (October 31, 2011) - Anthony Brancato recorded his first career double-double with career highs in points (12) and rebounds (10) for Lubbock Christian University, but Texas College came back from an eight point deficit with 8:23 remaining to defeat LCU 56-52 and  spoiling the Chaps coaching debut of Todd Duncan.

It was the season opener for both teams and it showed in the opening half.  The two teams combined for 21 fouls in the first half and neither team shot over 36%.  LCU opened their scoring with a field goal from Rashad Sample, and LCU never trailed the rest of the half after taking a 2-1 lead.  The Chaps led 29-23 at the half, with Sample leading LCU with 12 points in the half.  LCU also benefitted from going 11-for-13 from the free-throw line compared to Texas College going 4-for-11 from the line in the half.

The Steers had a quick start to the second half, cutting the LCU lead to 29-27, but a 6-0 run pushed the Chaps lead to 35-27.  LCU never led by more than eight points and hit a wall once taking a 43-35 lead with 8:39 left.  The Chaps went the next 4:22 without a point and despite the drought, a field goal by Tyler Kennedy and free-throws from Eddie Oropeza provided LCU a 47-43 lead with four minutes remaining.  The two teams combined for 40 fouls and 40 turnovers and the fouls started to hurt the Chaps late.  Sample had to sit out with four fouls much of the second half and inside player Aaron Plunkett fouled out. Plunkett fouled out sitting up a three-point play and the free throw converted by Jamal Robertson with 3:14 remaining gave the Steers a 48-47 lead and their first lead since leading 1-0.  Brancato hit a three-pointer for LCU with under three minutes left for a 50-48 lead, but LCU would go dry until Douglas Williams made a basket with 6.5 remaining to cut the Steers lead to 54-52.  It was too late at that point, as Robertson made both free-throws to seal the Steers win.

The Chaps shot 36.4% (16/44) from the field (3/7 from three-point range), while TC was 21/58 (36.2%).  The Chaps committed 13 second-half turnovers and 21 for the game.  LCU also went 6/12 from the free-throw line in the half after a solid first half.  Brancato and Sample co-led the Chaps offense with 12 points.  Brancato was 5-of-7 from the field including a dunk on a put-back that had the over-capacity crowd inside the Gus F. Taylor Gymnasium cheering him on as if he had a Steers jersey on. Wendell Maye led all scorers with 16 points to lead the Steers.

LCU (0-1) heads to Monroe, La Tuesday for an exhibition game against NCAA Div. I University of Louisiana at Monroe. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will air on KJAK 92.7 FM and online at www.lcuchaps.com.