\n By: Everett Corder (everett.corder@lcu.edu)
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NO. 4 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN\u00a0(6-0, 0-0)
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\nvs.\u00a0UT PERMIAN BASIN (3-3, 0-0)
\nWednesday, December 3 \u2013 7:30 p.m.
\nRip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
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\nTIPOFF
\nAfter an 11-day break, Lubbock Christian returns to action on Wednesday night and does so in a big way, hosting UT Permian Basin for the Lone Star Conference opener. They will follow up Saturday by meeting Angelo State in another LSC battle. The Chaparrals enter the week a perfect 6-0 on the season \u2013 their best start to the year since 2021. They are one of only 24 Division II men’s basketball teams left, and of those, only 10 others have played at least six games already this year.
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\nAWARD CENTRAL
\nSince the last time they were on the hardwood, a Chaparral was recognized by the Lone Star Conference. On Nov. 24, Amondo Miller Jr.<\/a> was named the week four LSC Offensive Player of the Week, earning the award for the second time this season. Miller Jr. averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 2.5 steals to fuel wins away from home over Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis. The Colorado native shot 51.4 percent from the field, hit 12 of 19 three-point attempts and had a double-double in each game.
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\nMILLER MAGIC
\nAlong with his two league Player of the Week awards, Miller Jr. was also named the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Tournament MVP in what has been an impressive start to the 2025-26 season. An All-LSC Third Team selection last season, Miller Jr. ranks sixth in the nation in points per game (24.7), sixth in three-point percentage (58.1) and 13th in total field goals (54). He also leads the LSC in defensive rebounds per game with 6.5 He is shooting 57.4 percent from the field and has added in 11 steals and five blocks on the defensive end of the floor.
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\nNATIONALLY KNOWN
\nAlso during their break from competition, LCU vaulted up the national rankings in the first in-season top-25 poll from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The Chaps, who were No. 25 in the association’s preseason poll, have now jumped all the way up to No. 4 nationally, which is their highest ranking since the 2021-22 season, when they were No. 1 overall for eight straight weeks. Three more LSC teams are nationally ranked, including St. Mary’s (9), St. Edward’s (11) and West Texas A&M (13).
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\nSHARP SHOOTERS
\nAfter shooting 50.8 percent in their most recent win against Fort Lewis, LCU is now shooting 50.6 on the season, which ranks 20th in the nation and leads the conference. Lubbock Christian is ranked even higher \u2013 11th nationally \u2013 in Effective FG%, which is a statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points, while all other field goals only count for two points. Their EFG% so far this season is .603. Miller Jr. is the team leader in field goal percentage, but Kendall Dow<\/a> and Antonio Pusateri<\/a> are both shooting above 50 percent for the season as well.
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\nBEYOND THE ARC
\nLCU’s efficiency extends all the way out past the three-point line, where their 48.1 percent shooting leads all of Division II. Dow leads the Chaps individually, shooting 62.2 percent, which is the second-best mark in the nation. Miller Jr. ranks sixth in that category nationally, shooting 58.1 percent on three-pointers. LCU matched a program record with 20 made three-pointers \u2013 including 12 in the second half \u2013 in their most recent win against Fort Lewis. The Chaps have shot better than 50 percent from behind the arc three times this season, including a season-high 64.7 percent on Nov. 2 against Augusta.
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\nPRESEASON PREDICTIONS
\nLubbock Christian was picked to finish third in the 2025 Lone Star Conference preseason poll, which is voted on by coaches, sports information directors and media members around the league. The Chaparrals garnered 720 points overall in the poll, including four first-place votes, which was the second-most among the 17 league teams. Preseason Players to Watch were also released by the league, with LCU’s Amondo Miller Jr.<\/a> recognized. Only reigning champion DBU had more first place votes than LCU, as they were picked to repeat atop the league. St. Mary’s finished just ahead of the Chaps with 724 total points. The Rattlers also boast the league’s Preseason Player of the Year in senior guard Damani Claxton.
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\nWHERE THE HEART IS
\nThis will be the third home game of the season for the Chaps, who are 2-0 inside the Rip Griffin so far this year. Including Wednesday’s matchup with UTPB, they have 10 more games on their home court. In their two home games so far this season, they are averaging 84.0 points per game on 51.7 shooting, while limiting opponents to 64.0 points per game on 41.2 percent shooting. Officially dedicated on October 9, 2000, the Rip Griffin Center seats 1,950 fans for sporting events.
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\nSCOUTING THE FALCONS<\/p>\n
\n\tUTPB has lost two of its last three games, falling to Sul Ross and CSU-Pueblo before an overtime win against MSU-Denver
\n\tTash Lunday, an NAIA transfer from Mount Marty, leads the Falcons with an average of 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game
\n\tUTPB ranks ninth in the LSC in offense, averaging 81.5 points per game
\n\tThe Falcons are the second-best rebounding team in the league, pulling down 40.0 boards per game
\n\tHead Coach Kyle Tolin is in his fifth season at UT Permian Basin after previously coaching for seven seasons a Arkansas-Monticello
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\nTHE SERIES WITH THE FALCONS
\nLubbock Christian and UT Permian Basin have been meeting on the hardwood since 2002, which was the first season the Falcons competed in men’s basketball. The two teams have met 27 total times, with LCU leading the all-time series 21-5. The Chaps have been winners in nine straight matchups, dating back to the 2020-21 season. UTPB’s last win came on Feb. 27, 2020, and they have not won in Lubbock since Feb. 22, 2014.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By: Everett Corder (everett.corder@lcu.edu)
Story Links
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