The Chaparrals fended off upsets from the Falcons in the final games in the Falcon Dome this season.
ODESSA, Texas — Lubbock Christian University men’s and women’s basketball take the season sweep with close wins over UT-Permian Basin Saturday in the final games in the Falcon Dome this season.
The No. 23-ranked Lady Chaparrals held off the Falcons for a 60-56 victory. LCU shot 40.4% overall and 5 of 20 from 3-point range, while UTPB (15-11, 10-8 in Lone Star Play) finished 33.9% from the field and 5 of 24 from behind the arc.
Tia Johnson finished with a team-high 11 points for the Lady Chaparrals, Kennedy Chappell contributed a double-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, and Taylor Allen added 10 points and three rebounds off the bench. Martie McCoy had a team-high six assists to go with six points.
UTPB’s lone senior Kenadi Rising dropped a season-high 20 points and seven rebounds, while Juliet Esomchukwu had 14 points and six rebounds. Madison Walters finished with nine points and three rebounds, and Jonesha Neal tied a season-high seven assists with seven points and five rebounds.
Rising scored the Falcons first 10 points of the game to give them an 8-point advantage, but Lubbock Christian finished the first quarter on a 12-2 run before holding UTPB to one second-quarter field goal to go into halftime up 31-18. The Falcons brought it back to a one-possession game entering the final 10 minutes and Esomchukwu’s 3-pointer tied it at 49 with 5:19 remaining. However, the Lady Chaps quickly got it out to a two-possession lead that pushed them ahead until the final buzzer.
The men’s game was a tight contest with 11 ties and 12 lead changes, but it’s No. 10 Lubbock Christian who comes out on top with an 80-77 victory. The Chaparrals made 47.8% of their shots with 8 of 20 from distance, while UTPB (10-16, 6-12 in Lone Star Play) was 53.4% overall and 9 of 20 from deep.
Amondo Miller Jr. scored a team-high 24 points and five rebounds for Lubbock Christian. Antonio Pusateri added a double-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, Lucas Mercandino had 17 points and seven rebounds, and Kendall Dow finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Senior TJ McKenzie led all scorers with a game-high of 29 points and three rebounds for the Falcons. Senior Sharrod Taylor contributed 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, while senior Tash Lunday finished with 13 points and three rebounds. Senior Bryceson Burns had nine points and six rebounds, and senior Kyle McElroy added six rebounds.
LCU and UTPB traded blows in the first half with the Chaparrals up 36-33 at the midway point. The two teams continued to battle with McKenzie’s layup giving the Falcons a 73-71 advantage with 2:30 left in the game, but Dow’s 3-pointer handed Lubbock Christian the lead for good. The largest lead of the game was six.
UTPB hits the road as the Falcons travel to Eastern New Mexico on Thursday, Feb. 26 with the women at 6:30 p.m. MST and the men following at 8:30 p.m. MST.