All eyes will be on the Lubbock Christian University Chaps and Lady Chaps Thursday night as both teams play against Texas A&M International University before a national TV audience.
The doubleheader is part of 27 contests the NCAA Division II is featuring as part of their Basketball Showcase which are broadcasted nationally. The games will be televised on the American Sports Network. This will be the first nationally televised event inside the Rip Griffin Center.
The doubleheader also happens to fall on the school’s homecoming week, meaning the Rip is already expecting to see a large crowd as is. Coach Steve Gomez says the Lady Chaps need to remain focused and play the game to the best of their ability, and also sharing that the added pressure may give his players a little more edge.
“Win or lose we just want to play at a high level, and we just want to finish well. So, having a home game and a nationally televised home game will hopefully gives us some energy, some excitement about finishing the season well,” said Gomez.
For senior elementary education major and Lady Chap shooting guard, Bailey Haist, preparing for her last homecoming game as a student athlete is exciting, but also very bittersweet.
“I’m realizing now that we’re nearing the end of the season, hopefully not for a little bit, but I’m going to be done soon. Just the routine of things that I take for granted, I’m realizing, ‘ok, I really need to make the most of these moments because it’s going to be gone before I know it,'” shared Haist.
The Lady Chaps will take the court at 6 p.m. and the men will tip off at 8 p.m. The games will be broadcasted on FOX, channel 34.
Admission to the game is free. The university is encouraging the university and Lubbock community to come out in full force. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free T-shirt.
