Lumberjacks Tackle Lamar Tonight
2/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2003
After two wins last week over Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana, the Lumberjacks go back out on the road for a pair of crucial games against Lamar and Sam Houston, beginning Thursday. SFA opens the two game road swing Thursday night at Lamar. The 'Jacks enter the game looking to snap a five game losing streak to the Cardinals, in Beaumont.
After suffering two straight games in which the 'Jacks shot less than 40 percent from the field, SFA regained its shooting touch last week at home. In Saturday's win over Southeastern Louisiana, SFA shot just over 57 percent from the field and an even 50 percent from behind the three point stripe (6-12). SFA continues to lead the Southland Conference in field goal percentage, shooting .496 from the field.
G/F Jasen Gast helped ignite the Lumberjack offense with two clutch performances last week. Gast started the week with a 19-point effort against Nicholls State, then closed out the week with only seven points, but a game high seven rebounds and career high five assists, against Southeastern Louisiana. Gast is averaging 8.2 ppg and 2.5 rpg for the year.
G B.J. Banks also turned in another big game with an 18-point night against the Lions. Banks was 7-9 from the floor, including 4-6 from outside the three point arc. Banks also added an assist, a blocked shot and two steals.
C Percy Green also continued this steady play with 16-points against the Lions and was a perfect 6-6 from the floor. Green had 10 points and four rebounds in the win over Nicholls State, Thursday night. Green leads the team and is ninth in the SLC in scoring with his 13.0 ppg average.
Thursday's match-up features the SLC's best field goal percentage team in SFA, battling the Cardinals field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot only .387 from the field, second in the Southland Conference.
THE SERIES
Lamar leads the overall series, 20-18. The Cardinals have won 8 of 10 meetings between the two teams since rejoining the SLC. SFA beat the Cardinals by a 74-62 margin in Nacogdoches earlier this year.
THE OPPONENT
Lamar enters Thursday's game at 11-11, 8-7 coming off a home win over Southwest Texas that snapped a two game losing streak. The Cardinals have won three of their last five overall.
F Damany Hendrix leads the Cardinals in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. Ron Austin is also adding 15.0 ppg for Mike Deane. F Lewis Arline leads the Cardinals in rebounding pulling down 8.4 rpg.
Lamar is outrebounding opponents by almost two rebounds per game and currently leads the SLC in rebounding with a 37.6 rpg average. Lamar is averaging 66.5 ppg while allowing 65.8 ppg.
