'Jacks To Tackle Mavs On Fox Sports
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2004
ROAD WOES: A three game road trip continues Saturday afternoon in Arlington with a televised match-up between the two preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference as the 'Jacks take on UT-Arlington. The game will air on Fox Sports Net beginning at noon. SFA enters the game one game back of conference leading Southeastern Louisiana after falling, 74-72 to SLU Monday night, in Hammond. The Lions got a bucket on a tip-in with 1.8 seconds to play to pick up the win and the one game lead over the 'Jacks. Southeastern Louisiana came into Monday's game fresh off a loss to the Mavericks, here in Texas Hall. UTA has struggled on the road, but is currently 8-1 on the year at home. The loss to Southeastern Louisiana was SFA's third conference loss of the season, with all three coming on the road by a total of five points. The 'Jacks are now 2-5 away from the coliseum this season and have dropped five straight after season opening road wins over Baylor and Alcorn State. The last four road losses are by a total of eight points.
LAST GAME: SFA and Southeastern Louisiana met Monday night in Hammond, La. with outright possession of first place in the conference on the line. When the dust settled, SLU held a one game edge over the 'Jacks in the standings after winning, 74-72 on a last second bucket from Nate Lofton. Lofton tipped in Amir Abdur-Rahim's errant three pointer with 1.8 seconds to play for the winning margin. It was Lofton's 16th point and 17th rebound of the night that proved to the difference in the game. SFA's lack of success at the free throw line in the second half of play proved costly as the 'Jacks went 5-10 in the second half at the line. Twice in the closing minutes, the 'Jacks did not convert the front end of the bonus, which allowed SLU to stay within striking distance. Both teams shot an even 50 percent from the field, but SLU went 15-21 (.714) at the line, while SFA was 9-15 (.600), including the 5-10 in the second half.
VS. UT-ARLINGTON: SFA leads the overall series 27-17, and won 71-44 earlier this year in Nacogdoches (see page 10 of this release). The series is tied 11-11 in games played in Arlington. The 'Jacks have lost six straight in Arlington with the last win coming in 1996-97 (65-64).
THE MAVERICKS: UT-Arlington and SFA, were picked as co-favorites to win the Southland Conference heading into the year. However, UTA has stumbled to a 5-5 conference mark and 10-11 overall. In spite of the overall record, the Mavericks are 8-1 in Texas Hall so far this year. UTA is led by Derrick Obasohan's 16.0 points per game, which is also third in the SLC. Donny Beacham leads the Mavs on the boards pulling down 6.4 rpg.
THE COACHES: The Lumberjacks are coached by Danny Kaspar (277-97) in his fourth year with the Lumberjacks. Kaspar is 58-45 at SFA. The fourth year head coach moved past Glen Rose into sixth place on the all time wins list with the win over UTSA. Next on the list is Ned Fowler with 78 wins. Kaspar is 3-4 against the Mavericks. UT-Arlington is coached by Eddie McCarter, in his 12th season with the Mavericks. McCarter is 145-179 as a head coach.
UP NEXT: The three game road trip concludes Feb. 18 with a visit to Lake Charles, La. to take on McNeese State before returning home to host Nicholls State (2/21).
