WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State held the second-best 3-point shooting team in NCAA Division II basketball to 29.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc and defeated Lubbock Christian on Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum, 83-69.
The Mustangs halted a three-game slide and improved to 9-4 overall with a 3-4 record in conference play.
The Chaparrals saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 10-4 overall and suffered their first loss in six conference matchups.
Lubbock Christian entered the game shooting 43.7 percent from 3-point range but only hit 3-of-15 shots from long distance in the first half.
Despite their trouble from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes, the Chaparrals led the Mustangs at halftime, 34-30, but Midwestern State took control of the game in the second half.
Amaechi Chukwu capped a 10-point run with a second-chance layup after getting a steal with 12:08 remaining in the game, and the Mustangs led, 51-41.
Mason Gibson and
Bakari LaStrap hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give MSU a 65-55 lead with 5:49 showing on the clock.
Reggie Hill scored with a lay-up and a slam dunk before
Will Shepherd hit two free throws as the Mustangs extended their lead to 15 points with 3:15 remaining.
Lubbock Christian hit three consecutive 3-point shots, including two from Ethan Duncan, as a 9-0 run in a span of 64 seconds brought the Chaparrals within six points with 1:58 remaining. Duncan assisted Ty Caswell of Wichita Falls on a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 75-69.
LaStrap answered with a step-back jumper, and Gibson scored on a fast break before Shepherd sealed the victory with four more successful free throws.
LaStrap was 8 of 16 from the field and scored a team-high 19 points, including three 3-pointers on six attempts.
Gibson finished with 17 points and five rebounds, while Shepherd poured in 16 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds for the Mustangs.
Hill was 5 of 5 from the field and scored 11 points in the victory.
Midwestern State shot 49 percent from the field overall and held the Chaparrals to 43 percent shooting.
Lubbock Christian was leading the conference and placed 11th in the nation shooting 51 percent entering the game on Saturday.
The Mustangs were 8 of 23 (34.8 percent), and Lubbock Christian was 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Midwestern State connected on 20-of-31 shots (64.5 percent) in the second half and hit eight of its final 10 field goal attempts to close out the game.
Tiras Morton of Lubbock Christian with the leading scorer with 23 points and also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Chaparrals.
Duncan was the only other player in double figures for Lubbock Christian with 17 points, hitting five of his 13 shots from beyond the arc.
The Mustangs travel to Silver City, New Mexico, to face Western New Mexico on Thursday night. Tip-off at Drag's Court is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CST.
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--MSUMustangs.com--
