Copeland Claims 450th Win

SHAWNEE, Okla. (February 4, 2010) – Kenny Hewitt ignited for six of Lubbock Christian University’s 12 three-pointers and posted 28 points to lead the Chaparrals to a 77-65 victory over St. Gregory’s University and their second consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference road win.  Teams combined for 23 three-pointers in the long-distance battle Thursday night at W.P. Wood Field House, which led to LCU gaining the win to provide head coach John Copeland his 450^th career win.

Hewitt and the Chaps perimeter shooters were dialed in from the start.  Four of the team’s first five field goals were from beyond the arc, with Hewitt burying three of them in the opening 3:39 for a 9-5 LCU lead.  LCU never trailed in the game but SGU wouldn’t go away early.  They used a 13-6 run to tie the game at 20-20 with 7:40 remaining in the half, but LCU’s Tyler Kennedy, who matched a program single-game record with ten three-pointers in the prior meeting, hit his first of three treys in the game to jumpstart a 9-2 LCU run.  They eventually took a 38-24 halftime lead after Justin Tatum split the defense and tallied a lay-up and free-throw on a traditional three-point play with 5.5-seconds remaining in the half. 

The second half was a tale of two halves.  The opening portion of the second half was an offensive display for the Chaps.  They scored 20 of the half’s first 30 points and took a 60-34 lead with just under 13 minutes remaining.  Benoit Bekono, who finished with ten points, had one of his four slams in the game with just over ten minutes left for their largest lead at 64-37.  The game was out of reach, but that did not stop the Cavaliers from making an attempt at a comeback.  SGU nailed nine three-pointers in the second half with seven coming in the final eight minutes of the game.  They closed the game out-scoring the Chaps 26-11 during the span of treys.  Fayzon Richey, who was held to two first-half points, hit four treys in the second half and finished with 14 points. Ryan Florie also helped the SGU surge with all of his 11 points coming in the final half.

Hewitt scored 16 of his 28 points in the first half and he also co-led the Chaps with seven rebounds.  Al Duvall also finished with ten points for the Chaps.  LCU shot 52.8% from the field (28/53) and 46.2% (12/26) from long distance.  SGU went 11-of-25 in the game from three-point range, going 9-of-14 (64.3%) in the second half.  Jade Carter tallied 18 points to lead SGU in the loss.  SGU’s Sam Stuart produced a game-high 11 rebounds.

Lubbock Christian improved to 13-8 overall and 8-7 in SAC play.  They are currently in a three-way tie for sixth place in the SAC, with the tie-breakers placing them in eighth place.  Five teams are within a game apart in the standings, as LCU completes the weekend Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.