'Jacks To Take On Grambling Saturday Night
12/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2004
ROAD TRIP CONTINUES: Following a 1-1 trip to the American Family Insurance Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa last week, the Lumberjacks continue a stretch of four straight on the road with a trip to Grambling, La. Saturday night. SFA looks to go over the .500 mark for the first time this season with a win over the Tigers. The `Jacks have evened their overall record twice this year, but have been unable to go over .500 mark for the year. After evening their record at 1-1, the Lumberjacks lost to Bucknell to fall to 1-2 on the year, then beat Northern Colorado to climb back even. Grambling enters Saturday's game at 2-1 on the year with wins over Texas College and Jarvis Christian and a 95-52 loss to the University of Houston in its last game.
THE LAST GAME: Following a 62-49 loss to Bucknell in the opening round of the Cyclone Challenge at Iowa State, the Lumberjacks bounced back to beat Northern Colorado 65-55 Saturday behind the continued strong play of G Josh Porter. The Shreveport, La. sophomore led all scorers in the game with 23 points, one off his career high of 24 set earlier in the week. Porter was 8-14 from the field, including 5-7 from outside the three point line for the game as SFA shot 44 percent from the field (22-50) and an even 50 percent from beyond the arc (8-16). The Lumberjacks outrebounded the Bears, 37-28 behind the first double-double of F Rodrigo Segantim's career as he pulled down a game high 10-rebounds and added 11-points.
VS. THE OPPONENT: The `Jacks hold a 3-1 edge in the series with Grambling State. The teams first met in 1967 playing a home and home series that season. The `Jacks swept both games, winning in Grambling, 89-64 and later that season in Nacogdoches, 124-86. SFA also traveled to Grambling in 1986 and dropped a 71-65 decision for the `Jacks only loss in the series. The teams also played last season in Nacogdoches with the `Jacks winning, 68-50. SFA is 1-1 in Memorial Gym.
THE OPPONENT: Grambling State enters the game at 2-1 on the season after dropping its last game 95-52 to Houston. Marcus Watson, a 5-11 freshman guard, leads the Tigers in scoring averaging 15.7 ppg. Brion Rush, a 6-2 junior guard, is also adding 11.3 points per game for the Tigers. Grambling State is shooting just .381 from the field, but has connected on 42 percent of its three point shots (21-50). The Tigers are also averaging 43.0 rebounds per game while allowing 43.3 rpg. Anthony Williams, a 6-8 sophomore, leads the Tigers on the boards with 7.3 rebounds per game. The Tigers are also averaging just over 22 turnovers per game through their first three games.
THE COACHES: The Lumberjacks are coached by Danny Kaspar (285-103) in his fifth year with the Lumberjacks. Kaspar is 66-51 at SFA. The fifth year head coach can move past Ned Fowler into fifth place on the all-time wins list with 13 more wins this year. Grambling State is coached by Larry Wright (43-103) in his fifth season at Grambling State. Kaspar is 1-0 vs. Grambling.
UP NEXT: The `Jacks travel to Huntsville, Ala. to take on Alabama A&M (12/8). SFA then returns to the coliseum to host Jackson State, Dec. 11. ™
