LUBBOCK, Texas (December 3, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin men's basketball team fell victim to a combined 24-5 run between the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half and dropped a 78-59 decision at No. 4 Lubbock Christian University in its first Lone Star Conference game of the 2025-26 season.

UTPB (3-4 overall, 0-1 LSC) was coming off a double overtime victory last Saturday while LCU (7-0, 1-0) had the last 11 days off. The Chaparrals are off to their best start since 2021 and entered conference play as one of only 24 NCAA Division II men's basketball teams left undefeated.

The Falcons led 9-6 five minutes in after a tough layup by Tash Lunday, but LCU answered with a 9-0 scoring run in just under two minutes before Lunday stopped the run with a pair of free throws to make it a 15-11 deficit.

Rashad Kee left his defender in the dust with a nifty shimmy-shake and a layup to make it a two-point game 17-15, and then the Falcons retook the lead (18-17) with a 3-pointer by Kainan Thomas over nine minutes into the game.

Thomas then stuck a stepback jumper to make it 24-21 Falcons with seven minutes left in the first half, but LCU answered with an and-one to start a quick 7-0 run over the next minute and a half. Lunday again stopped the run with a pair of free throws to make it a 28-26 deficit with five and a half minutes to go before halftime.

There were four ties and seven lead changes in the first 14 minutes of the game. However, in the final four minutes of the half, back-to-back 3-pointers helped LCU find some separation on the scoreboard, and then a stepback jumper by Armando Miller Jr. made it an 8-0 run and a 10-point lead (38-28) with two and a half minutes left in the opening period.

In all, LCU would end the first half on a 12-0 run and held UTPB off the scoreboard for the last four minutes of the half. LCU shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and had two 13-point scorers (Miller Jr., Antonio Pusateri).

LCU would then open the second half on an 12-5 run ending with a fastbreak dunk by Alex Anamekwe to take control up 19 points (53-34) four minutes in.

LCU made 10 of its first 14 shots (71.4 percent) of the second half and led by 20 points (63-43) with nine minutes to go.

LCU did it all without hitting a 3-pointer in the second half, which was odd considering that LCU's 48.1 shooting percentage from three entering the game led all of Division II. The Chaps' 23.1 percent shooting from behind the arc against the Falcons was their lowest of the season. In their most recent action, the Chaps matched a program record with 20 made 3-pointers in a win against Fort Lewis College.

Impressively, LCU still finished at 71.4 percent (15-21) shooting in the second half to raise its percentage to 58.5 percent for the game. LCU came into the game shooting 50.6 percent on the season, which ranked 20th in the nation and led the conference.

UTPB entered the game ranked second in the conference in rebounding, pulling down 40.0 rebounds per game, but was doubled up on the boards by LCU 24-12 in the first half and was outrebounded by 15 (38-23) for the game.

The Chaps dominated the paint with 46 points and limited the Falcons to 16.7 percent shooting from behind the arc in the game. Another big difference was 16 assists for LCU compared to just two for UTPB.

Miller Jr. would lead all scorers with 21 points for LCU and added nine rebounds while his teammate, Pusateri, reached a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards on 80 percent (8-10) shooting. Along with his two LSC Player of the Week awards so far this season, Miller Jr., an All-LSC Third Team selection last season, entered conference play ranked sixth in the nation in points per game (24.7), sixth in 3-point percentage (58.1) and 13th in total field goals (54). He has now scored at least 20 points in five out of seven chances this season.

Lunday paced the Falcons with 18 points and nine rebounds and was followed by Bryceson Burns with 14 points and Kee with 12 points and six boards.

Next up, UTPB will close out the opening week of LSC action as the Falcons battle Midwestern State University at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 5, from Wichita Falls, Texas.

The league's scheduling format has changed for the upcoming season with the addition of UT Dallas to the conference slate. The LSC is no longer split into divisions, and LCU will now play a 20-game league schedule with all games counting toward conference standings. The Falcons will only play four teams twice – Lubbock Christian, Midwestern State, Texas A&M International and Angelo State. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the LSC Tournament March 5-8 at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.