Stephen F. Austin
Kansas State
Lumberjacks Fall to K-State
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2005
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Senior forward Anthony Paez scored a team-high 13 points, and senior point guard Marcus Clark dished out a career-high 12 assists, but it wasn't enough for the Stephen F. Austin basketball team to overcome Kansas State, as the Lumberjacks fell, 71-54, Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum. SFA (2-1) was looking to record the program's second 3-0 start in the last 10 years, but the Wildcats (3-0) steadily built a lead early in the game, then held on down the stretch, behind a big night at the foul stripe and a rough shooting performance by SFA.
The Lumberjacks played Kansas State close early, but the Wildcats pulled away late in the first half and led by 13 (34-21) at the break. Kansas State stretched its lead to as many as 16 after halftime, before SFA rallied to trim the lead back to single digits. Clark capped a 7-0 run with a steal and a jumper to make it a nine-point game (48-39) with 11:06 remaining. Later, freshman guard Josh Alexander knocked down a jump shot to again narrow the margin to nine, and junior guard Chaz Dykes scored a bucket with 7:06 left to cut the Wildcats' lead to eight (55-47). But the Lumberjacks would get no closer.
The Lumberjacks were hampered by foul trouble throughout the contest and paid the price down the stretch, as Kansas State padded its lead with free throws. Ten of the Wildcats' final 12 points of the game came at the foul line, where they were 22-of-28 for the night. The 'Jacks, who were whistled for 23 personal fouls, missed all five of their free throw opportunities in the contest. SFA shot 39.7 percent from the field, the Lumberjacks' lowest shooting percentage of the year.
Paez hit 6-of-11 from the field in reaching double figures for the second time this season. Alexander also broke into double digits with an 11-point performance. Junior forward Antuane Miller added eight points and six rebounds. Clark grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and scored five points to go along with his 12 assists, and Dykes found the scoring column for the first time this season, finishing with six points on 3-of-8 shooting.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 29, when they host Houston Baptist. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
- SFA -
