SFA Opens Final Stretch Against Lamar
2/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2004
FINAL FOUR: The term 'final four' takes on a whole new meaning for the Lumberjacks this week as SFA enters a final stretch of the regular season. The 'Jacks play the first of the final four regular season games Wednesday night against Lamar, in Beaumont. Three of the final four regular season games are on the road, where SFA has lost seven straight. Six teams enter the stretch run with five losses, two games back of conference leading Southeastern Louisiana in the loss column. UL-Monroe is one game back of the logjam with six conference losses and currently stands alone in eighth place. Lamar, at 4-8 in Southland Conference play, must finish strong to make a move into qualifying for the postseason field. Wednesday night's game is huge for both teams as the 'Jacks jockey for position for the stretch run and Lamar tries to put itself back into the race for one of the eight spots in the conference postseason tournament.
LAST GAME: SFA snapped a three game losing streak and extended its home court winning streak to 28 straight with a 65-50 win over Nicholls State. The 'Jacks trailed briefly in the first half while shooting only 37.5 percent from the field in the first half (9-24). Nicholls State also struggled connecting on only five of 15 attempts (.333) in the first 20 minutes of play. SFA took a 25-22 lead into the half, then came out in the second half and stepped up the defensive pressure. The 'Jacks opened the second half on an 20-2 run to put away the Colonels. SFA employed a smothering defense that held Nicholls State to an 0-6 start from the field with six turnovers in the opening seven minutes of the second half. The 'Jacks went 7-10 from the field over that same span to open the lead. Hank Rivers had a career high 15 points to lead SFA and Antonio Burks added 10 points. The 'Jacks shot 59.3 percent from the field (16-27) in the second half of play to finish the night at .493 for the game. The 'Jacks also outrebounded Nicholls State 30-22 and outscored the Colonels 15-3 on second chance points.
VS. LAMAR: Lamar leads the overall series, 21-18. The Cardinals also hold an 8-3 edge since re-joining the SLC. SFA has won the last two meetings. SFA had lost five straight in the Montagne Center prior to last year's 77-73 win.
THE CARDINALS: The Cardinals enter play at 10-15, 4-8 in the Southland Conference. Lamar has dropped three straight and is 3-7 in its last 10 games. Lamar has won three of its last four games in Beaumont and is 10-4 at home this year. Raymond Anthony leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.6 ppg. Terrell Petteway is adding 15.0 ppg, with Teddy Davis at 14.8 ppg and Gil Goodrich at 13.2 ppg rounding out the double figure scoring for the Cardinals. Lamar leads the SLC in scoring offense (80.4 ppg) but is last in the conference in scoring defense (79.7 ppg). Lamar is also last in the conference in three point field goal percentage (.302).
THE COACHES: The Lumberjacks are coached by Danny Kaspar (278-99) in his fourth year with the Lumberjacks. Kaspar is 59-47 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 Cardinals. The Cardinals are coached by Billy Tubbs, who returned to coaching prior to the start of the season. Tubbs is in his 29th year as a head coach with a career record of 605-312. He is 85-61 in five seasons at Lamar.
UP NEXT: The 'Jacks go to Sam Houston (2/28) before returning home for the final regular season home game against Northwestern State (3/2). SFA then closes the regular season on the road against Texas State (3/5).
