Baker, Chaps Hold On For Upset Win over No.18 Rogers State
By: Chris Due-LCU Communications
Updated: January 26, 2013
LUBBOCK,
Texas (January 26, 2013) - Eli Baker was 8-of-9 from the field to lead
Lubbock Christian
University with 16 points and the Chaparrals used a 38-24 scoring
advantage in the paint to upset No.18 Rogers State University 69-65 in
Saturday afternoon Sooner Athletic Conference play inside Rip Griffin
Center for their fourth win of the season over a ranked
opponent.
Even
though RSU started the game on a 7-0 run, the Chaps would fight back
early to tie the
game at 13-13 at the 12:07 mark. Jamaal Crayton's jumper with 12:07
remaining in the half provided LCU a 15-13 lead and they never allowed
RSU to take a lead past that point. LCU used an 11-1 run, capped by a
Tyler Kennedy three-pointer, to reach their largest
lead of the game at 33-21 (4:40 remaining). Roger State would end the
first half of play with three possessions resulting in three-point field
goals to trim the deficit to 37-32 at the half.
Although
the Chaps would keep their lead the entire second half of play, the
Hillcats were
champing on the Chaps heels. LCU led as much as 52-41 with 13:51, but
then the Hillcats chipped away at the LCU lead. The Hillcats used a 10-1
run to cut the Chaps lead to 53-51 and eventually drew the score within
a point at 61-60 (5:24 remaining). Ken Holdman
of RSU hit a contested three-point field goal with 1:00 minute reaming
to cut LCU's lead to 66-65, but the Hillcats would not score again off
three attempted three-point field goals. LCU received clutch free throws
from Jamaal Crayton and A.J. Luckey to finish
off the game's scoring.
LCU
would take a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint, 13-6 edge in
second chance points
and 32-15 advantage in bench points. Rogers State barely nudged out the
Chaps in shooting 50% from the field (24/28), while LCU shot 49%
(25/51). LCU would out-rebound the Hillcats 32-24, with 10 offensive
rebounds. Using balanced scoring, Baker was the leading
scorer with 16 points and A.J. Luckey added 10. Baker and Luckey also
added seven rebounds each. The Hillcats would put three players in
double digits, as Donald Williams had 16 points, Ken Holdman ended with
12 points and Kendrell Thompson chipped in 11 points.
The
win for LCU was their fourth win of the season against a ranked
opponent (LCU played three
straight games against ranked opponents), and they are now 4-4 against
ranked opponents on the season. They were 3-6 against ranked opponents
last season and they are 7-10 all-time under head coach Todd Duncan
against ranked competition. LCU broke a three-game
losing streak, moving their record to 11-9 overall and 4-4 in SAC play.
The 4-4 mark for LCU has them tied with RSU and Wayland Baptist for
fourth place, but they hold the tiebreakers over each team. Rogers State
falls to 16-6 overall and matches LCU at 4-4
in the SAC. LCU will take to the road and travel to Oklahoma City next
week, facing the Evangels of Mid-America Christian University Thursday
at 8 p.m. inside Gaulke Activity Center.
