Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern St
Northwestern St. Defeats Stephen F. Austin
3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2001
NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) - Michael Byars-Dawson's 20 points included field goals in the closing moments that preserved Northwestern State's 68-62 victory Thursday night over Stephen F. Austin and dimmed the Lumberjacks' hopes of making the Southland Conference's post-season tournament.
It was the third victory in the last four games for Northwestern (14-12 overall, 10-9 Southland). It was the fifth straight lost by SFA (9-16, 6-13).
Stephen F. Austin, down by 31-19 at halftime, fought back to take a 58-57 lead on a free throw by Ron Banks with 3:50 left in the game. But a 3-point goal by Byars-Dawson with 2:28 remaining gave the Demons a 60-58 lead they would never relinquish.
SFA closed to within four points twice after that, but a steal by Byars-Dawson and two free throws by Ryan Duplessis with 17 seconds left and a layup by Byars-Dawson with two seconds remaining quashed SFA's comeback.
Fischer and Chris Thompson added 11 points each for Northwestern.
Banks' 30 points led SFA.
