SFA Takes On UT-Arlington Wednesday Night
1/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2005
KICKING OUT THE FOOTLIGHTS: The Lumberjacks hit the road for a single game this week in Arlington against the Mavericks of UT-Arlington. SFA returns to Texas Hall to play on stage in one of the most unique venues in college basketball. The `Jacks must find the footlights distracting as SFA has gone 2-8 in its last 10 trips into Texas Hall. Last year's 69-68 win over the Mavericks in the SLC Tournament semifinals snapped a five game losing streak in Texas Hall for the Lumberjacks and was the first win for an SFA team in Texas Hall since 1996-97. The Mavericks enter Wednesday's game at 8-8 overall and 3-3 in SLC play following an 80-76 overtime home win over UL-Monroe Saturday night. The Mavericks are 5-2 in Texas Hall this season with their only losses coming at the hands of New Mexico and Northwestern State.
THE LAST GAME: G Marcus Clark continued his hot streak with a game high 26 points as the `Jacks jumped out to an early lead and beat Lamar, 70-60 to move to 3-2 in the SLC standings. Clark scored 21 of his 26 points in the first half of play as SFA built a 13-point halftime lead and withstood a late challenge from the Cardinals. Lamar trimmed the lead to only six points on two occasions inside the final three minutes, but the `Jacks answered each with free throws by Clark and a lay-up from C Hank Rivers to put the `Jacks back up by eight after each challenge. F Anthony Paez added 12 points and G Josh Porter had 11 for the Lumberjacks. SFA held the SLC's second leading scorer, Alan Daniels to 16 points on a six of 20 night from the field. SFA also outrebounded the Cardinals 42-32 for the game with F Taylor Moore leading the way with nine boards.
VS. THE OPPONENT: SFA leads the overall series, 24-22. UT-Arlington leads the series 20-14 since both teams joined the Southland Conference. The `Jacks are 4-15 in Arlington since moving the Division I level.
THE OPPONENT: The Mavericks enter Wednesday's game at 8-8 overall and 3-3 in SLC play. UT-Arlington went to overtime Saturday before beating UL-Monroe, 80-76 to break a two game home court losing streak. UTA has won three of its last seven games overall. The Mavericks are led in scoring by the Southland's top scorer, Steven Thomas and his 19.1 points per game. Jarrett Howell is the only other Maverick in double figures, averaging 12.8 points per game. The Mavericks are averaging 71.1 points per game while allowing opponents an average of 74.5 ppg. UTA has out-rebounded opponents by an average of 1.9 rebounds per game. Thomas also leads the Mavericks on the boards with 9.1 rpg.
THE COACHES: The Lumberjacks are coached by Danny Kaspar (292-108) in his fifth year with the Lumberjacks. Kaspar is 73-56 at SFA. The fifth year head coach can move past Ned Fowler into fifth place on the all-time wins list with six more wins this year. Kaspar is 4-5 against the Mavericks. UT-Arlington is coached by Eddie McCarter (160-188) in his 14th season with the Mavericks.
UP NEXT: SFA begins a stretch in which it plays five of eight games at home with McNeese State (2/3). The `Jacks then travel to Hammond, La. to take on Southeastern Louisiana (2/5). ™
