Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas --- Something had to give in Monday night's Sooner Athletic Conference opener pitting the Pioneers of Wayland Baptist against the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals. Both teams were undefeated going into the contest, but took very different routes getting there. The WBU men possessed one of the NAIA's best defenses, while the Chaps owned one of the nation's top offenses.
In the end, the Pioneers' defense held LCU to 24 points below its season average, but the home team still found a way to win, knocking WBU from the ranks of the unbeaten, 72-63.
The two teams hit 23 field goals each, although the Chaps were more productive, hitting 50 percent from the field, while the Wayland men made good on 44 percent of their shots. The outcome of the game ultimately came down to the long ball and free throws. The Chaps put in two more treys than the Pioneers and were seven points better at the foul line.
The game was tied three times and there were three lead changes, all in the early going. After Wayland's Desmaan Robinson hit a jumper to knot the score at 12, the Chaps went on a 9-2 run to grab a 21-14 advantage. WBU managed to make it a one possession game two more times before the end of the half. C'Jamarion Leashore hit a shot with 2:36 left before the break to make it 26-23, and then freshman Nathan Harbour made it 28-25 a minute later.
LCU led 33-29 at the break, and went back up by seven two and a half minutes into the final period on a jumper by Kenny Hewitt for two of his game-high 23 points. George Williams answered with six straight to draw Wayland to within one at 41-40, but the Chaps responded with a 14-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 55-43.
WBU's Bobby Watkins posted a double-double in the contest with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The junior forward also had a game-high three steals. Robinson had 12 points and added seven boards, and Williams contributed ten points. Leashore handed out a team-high five assists.
The Pioneers dominated on the boards, outrebounding LCU 36-20. They also outscored the Chaps in the paint 28-22, and had 15 second chance points, as opposed to just two by the home team.
Lubbock Christian did convert 17 WBU turnovers into 17 points, while committing ten turnovers that resulted in eight Wayland points.
WBU (5-1, 1-1) travels to Dallas on Wednesday for an exhibition game against Southern Methodist University. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
