University of Texas at Tyler

Next Game:

at University of Texas at Tyler

1/22/2026 | 7:30 P.M.


Jan. 22 (Thu) / 7:30 P.M.


at University of Texas at Tyler

History

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 17, 2026) — No. 5 Lubbock Christian University fell to No. 24 Eastern New Mexico University 85-80 in a tightly contested matchup Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center. 

Despite leading by five late in the second half, the Chaps were unable to hold off the Greyhounds, who capitalized on 10 steals and a 23-point advantage from turnovers. The home team was led by 12 three-pointers. 

Lubbock Christian falls to16-3 overall and is now 7-2 in Lone Star Conference competition. Eastern N.M. stands at 14-3 overall, and is also 7-2 record in LSC play.

Lubbock Christian began with a strong start, scoring first with a layup by Amondo Miller Jr. and holding an early advantage. Antonio Pusateri contributed significantly, adding multiple baskets, including a fast-break layup at the 13:38 mark, which put LCU ahead by six – their largest margin of the opening period.

A 7-0 burst from ENMU with just over 10 minutes left in the half, turned the score around and put the Greyhounds on top. LCU again pushed the lead back out to six, and again the Greyhounds answered with a run of their own. Eastern New Mexico closed the half on a 7-3 run to lead by two at the break.

The Chaps faced a challenging second half as ENMU capitalized on turnovers to create an early 11-point lead. Lubbock Christian shot a scorching 61.5 percent, including 63.6 percent from behind the arc, but the Greyhounds out-did them, hitting 63 percent of their overall shots, including 66.7 percent on three-pointers. 

ENMU led by as many as 13 in the half, but the Chaps did mount a comeback in the final five minutes, cutting their deficit to just one on a Kendall Dow three-pointer with 1:48 left to play. The Greyhounds hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to close out the win. 

Kendall Dow scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, and added two steals. Pusateri posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, converting 11 of 13 field goal attempts. Mercandino contributed 12 points and led the team with eight assists. Miller Jr. added 11 points and recorded four assists.

GAME NOTES:

– Reagan Fiedler played a season-high 24 minutes and scored a career-high eight points.

– Both Dow and Pusateri played the full 40 minutes. It is the sixth time Dow has played every minute of the game and the third time for Pusateri.

– The Chaps finished the game shooting 57.1 percent from the field. It is their highest shooting percentage in a loss since March 16, 2021, when they shot 60 percent in a 101-92 loss to West Texas A&M in the South Central Regional final.

– Pusateri’s game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds gave him his LSC-leading 11th double-double of the season.

– Mercandino had a career-high eight assists. It is tied for the most in a game by a Chaparral this season (Leo Nordberg, 11/2).

NEXT UP:

LCU will head back out on the road now, taking on UT Tyler at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Louise Herrington Patriot Center.