No. 1 LCU men look for 18th win in a row
Lubbock Christian University, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II men's basketball for the eighth week in a row, will try to extend its program-best start to a season Thursday in Lone Star Conference action.
The Chaparrals (17-0, 5-0) face Angelo State (13-4, 3-2) at 7:30 p.m. at the Junell Center in San Angelo. The Chaps swept the regular-season series from the Rams last year.
LCU's 17-0 start is one better than last season, when the Chaps won their first 16.
In a 17-team conference, LCU has three of the LSC's top eight scorers: Parker Hicks at 16.9 points per game, Lloyd Daniels at 15.5 and Aamer Muhammad at 15.2. Hicks also is the conference's second leading rebounder with an 8.2 average and has been the LSC defensive player of the week five times this season.
Leading Angelo State are Tyrell Carroll (13.6 points per game), Paul Williams (12.9 ppg) and Dante Moses (12.7 ppg). The Rams received votes in this week's National Association Basketball Coaches poll.
The action starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with the LCU women (16-3, 5-2) taking on Angelo State (5-10, 2-2). The Lady Chaps are No. 8 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll and No. 11 in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) ranking.
The three-time national champion Lady Chaps are in an unfamiliar spot, however, trailing four other teams in the LSC standings. Texas A&M-Kingsville (13-4, 6-0), Cameron (10-5, 5-0) and West Texas A&M (12-7, 5-0) have yet to lose in conference play, and LCU also is behind Texas Woman's (10-5, 3-1) by winning percentage and in the loss column.
Senior guards Allie Schulte and Ashton Duncan pace the Lady Chaps with scoring averages of 11.8 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.
Former Wayland Baptist coach Alesha Ellis is in her first season coaching Angelo State, and the Belles' top three scorers all followed her from the Flying Queens. Blakeley Gerber averages 10.9 points per game, followed by Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant at 10.2 and Roosevelt graduate Payton Brown at 10.1. Madeline Stephens, a freshman from Monterey, averages 9.7.
THURSDAY'S AREA SCHEDULE
Women
Lubbock Christian University (16-3, 5-2) at Angelo State (5-10, 2-2), 5:30 p.m.
Central Christian (1-20, 0-14) at No. 9 Wayland Baptist (20-3, 12-2), 6 p.m.
Men
Lubbock Christian University (17-0, 5-0) at Angelo State (13-4, 3-2), 7:30 p.m.
Central Christian (10-11, 4-10) at Wayland Baptist (10-11, 6-8), 7:45 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: College basketball: No. 1 LCU men look for 18th win in a row
