Big Homestand For SFA Basketball
1/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2003
SFA returns to the coliseum for a pair of tough home games this week, starting with Thursday night's match-up with Lamar. The 'Jacks swept Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana on the road last week, in spite of not playing at the top of their game. The wins, coupled with a loss by UT-Arlington to Nicholls State Saturday, leaves SFA as the SLC's leader at the quarter pole.
The 'Jacks enter the week continuing to utilize a balanced attack that features nine players averaging over five points per game, and 10 players averaging at least 11 minutes of action per game. C Percy Green continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg, while F Antonio Burks is adding 11.1 ppg for Danny Kaspar and the 'Jacks. In SLC play, F Dedrick Sanders has averaged 11.6 ppg and is third on the team overall with an 8.8 ppg average.
This week sets up as a pivotal week for the 'Jacks as they host Lamar Thursday night and Sam Houston Saturday. Riding an eight game win streak, the 'Jacks have now won six of seven in the coliseum and five straight at home this year.
The 'Jacks remain one of the SLC's best offensive teams, leading the SLC in field goal percentage, shooting .520 from the field. The 'Jacks have faltered at the free throw line over the last two weeks, slipping to a .698 free throw percentage. SFA also continues to be a tough team to rebound against, allowing opponents an average of only 31.1 rpg.
THE OPPONENT
Lamar enters Thursday night's game at 5-7 overall and 2-3 in Southland Conference action. The Cardinals are 0-7 on the road so far in 2002-03. Mike Deane's Cardinals have posted wins over Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana in Beaumont, but have dropped road games to Sam Houston, UT-San Antonio and Southwest Texas.
F Damany Hendrix leads the Cardinals, averaging 15.4 ppg. G Ron Austin is adding 12.5 ppg. G Jonathan Burnett was third on the team with a 10.1 ppg average, but was lost for the season with a knee injury last week. F Lewis Arline leads the team in rebounding averaging 8.8 boards per game. Lamar is shooting .417 from the floor for the year.
LEFTOVERS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN LA GAME
* SFA won in Hammond for the fourth straight time, and completed the two game sweep of the SLU-Nicholls State trip for the third straight year.
* SFA led 30-26 at the half and went on to win, 58-55. SFA is 9-0 when leading at the half this season.
* F Dedrick Sanders led SFA with 13 points, the third time in the past four games that Sanders has scored at least 10 points in a game. Sanders is averaging 11.6 ppg in Southland Conference play.
* Southeastern Louisiana forced the Lumberjacks into a season high 21 turnovers in the game, eclipsing the previous season high of 20 turnovers in the season opener against Texas. SLU scored 18 points off the SFA turnovers.
* The 'Jacks continued their unselfish play, chalking up 16 assists against the Lions. SFA had a season high 18 assists earlier this year in a win over Concordia-Austin. Eight of the ten 'Jacks that appeared in the game recorded at least one dish.
* Danny Kaspar reached a milestone with the win over Southeastern Louisiana, chalking up career win 250. Kaspar has a 250-87 career record and is 31-35 at SFA in 2+ seasons.
* The 'Jacks were credited with only two steals against Southeastern Louisiana, the lowest total of the season. SFA is averaging 10.87 steals per game to lead the SLC.
* The Lumberjacks shot .656 (21-32) from the field against Southeastern Louisiana, the second best field goal percentage of the season, and the best against a Division I opponent.
