Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M-Commerce (EXH)
`Jacks Fall in Exhibition
11/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2005
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - After rallying to tie the score at the end of regulation on a four-point play by senior Marcus Clark, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team fell to Texas A&M-Commerce, 99-93, in double overtime Thursday night in its exhibition opener at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lions outscored SFA, 18-12, in the second overtime to secure the victory.
Clark tied the game at 74 with seconds left in regulation when he was fouled on a 3-pointer and knocked down the free throw. The Lumberjacks stayed alive at the end of the first overtime when senior Anthony Paez hit the back end of a pair of free throws with one second left to even the score at 81. But it was all Lions in the second overtime period.
A&M-Commerce jumped out to a quick five-point lead (86-81) and stretched its advantage to as many as nine points before a pair of free throws by P.J. Hatcher with one second left set the final margin. Hatcher was one of four Lions to score a team-high 18 points. Chris Fantroy, Jermart Miller and Lamar Searight joined him.
Paez led all scorers with 31 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. Clark scored 19 points, dished out nine assists and recorded four steals. Junior forward Antuane Miller scored 20 points and pulled down five rebounds in his SFA debut. Junior Keith Hardaway and redshirt freshman Matt Kingsley added six points apiece. Sophomore forward Scott Weaver scored four, freshman Josh Alexander scored three, and junior Todd Henry and freshman Jerel Hastings chipped in with a bucket each.
SFA will open the 2005-06 regular season on Nov. 19 against Tulsa. The contest is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip-off in Tulsa, Okla.
-- SFA --
