Box Score LUBBOCK – Jevvon Hunter and the rest of the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals were as hot as West Texas in December…at least on Tuesday.
Hunter made six of LCU's 11 3-pointers as the Chaps rolled to a 100-77 victory over Wayland Baptist University in the Sooner Athletic Conference opener for both teams at the Rip Griffin Center.
Wayland (6-5) owned the lead out of the gate, but it didn't take long for LCU coach Todd Duncan's Chaps (6-4) to find their range. After leading 7-4, the Pioneers suddenly found themselves trailing 21-11.
The Chaps kept pouring in points the rest of the first half, eventually taking a 45-27 halftime lead. They didn't let up after intermission, either, outscoring Wayland 14-4 to start the second half for a commanding 59-31 edge.
To the hustling Pioneers' credit, they didn't give up, competing all the way to the end. Wayland even cut the margin to 15 points, 78-63, with six minutes left. But the Pioneers were running on empty and couldn't get any closer.
LCU topped the century mark on its final 3-pointer with 21 seconds to go.
The Pioneers, who shot 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field, got a dozen points apiece from
Travis Payton and
Chance Billups, and 10 from
Tanner Hazelbaker.
Six LCU players finished in double digits, led by Jamaal Crayton with 22 – half of those coming on his 11-of-11 free-throw performance. Hunter and Eli Baker added 18 each. The Chaps wound up shooting 57 percent (33-of-58) from the field, including 11-of-17 from downtown.
Wayland was outrebounded 42-29, getting just six offensive rebounds compared to 13 for LCU.
Reggie Fondren led the Pioneers on the boards with eight, equaling his point total.
Wayland plays its next four games at home, starting with a Dec. 14 date against Rhema Bible College, before returning to conference play Jan. 3 at St. Gregory's.
