'Jacks Go On Road Looking For 11th Straight
1/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2003
The Lumberjacks took another big step in their quest to reach the upper echelon of the Southland Conference basketball race Saturday with a 77-70 overtime win over preseason conference favorite, Sam Houston. The 'Jacks were forced to overtime, but came through in the extra five minute period to outscore the Bearkats 9-2 for the win.
G B.J. Banks and C Percy Green continue to lead the Lumberjacks during the current streak. Both set career highs in scoring against the Bearkats, with Green scoring a game high 25 and Banks adding 20. Banks played a season high 38 minutes in the win and has been one of the catalysts for the 'Jacks recent success.
F Stevin Ozier has also stepped up his rebounding presence averaging 7.4 rebounds per game over the last five contests, including a season high 11 boards against Lamar and 10 rebounds in the win over Sam Houston.
The 'Jacks remain among the nation's best in field goal percentage, shooting .509 from the field. SFA entered Saturday's game as the fourth ranked team in the nation in terms of field goal percentage.
For the Lumberjacks to extend the streak to 11 straight, they must do something they haven't done since the 1996-97 season, win in San Antonio.
SFA's current 10 game winning streak is tied for sixth in the nation with Kansas, which has also won ten straight. Duke has the nation's longest win streak at 13 straight.
The 'Jacks are 3-2 on the road in 2002-03 and has won three straight on the road after road losses to Texas and Texas Southern to open the season.
THE OPPONENT
UT-San Antonio enters play Wednesday night at 5-8, 2-4 having lost two straight and five of its last eight games. The Roadrunners lost last week to Sam Houston (65-82) and McNeese State (51-66), in San Antonio.
LeRoy Hurd, the team's leading scorer, was held to just six points in 22 minutes against McNeese State and left the game with an injury. Hurd is averaging 19.3 ppg. Ike Akotaboi is second on the team with a 14.2 ppg average and Raymond Briggs has added 10.8 ppg for the Roadrunners. Hurd is also the team's leading rebounder pulling down 7.1 rpg. UTSA is averaging only 63.4 ppg while allowing 67.1 ppg.
