'Jacks Set To Host Conference Leaders
2/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2005
CRUNCH TIME IS HERE: SFA entered the week coming off a solid home win over Texas State and facing a stretch of three games in six days. Saturday's match-up with conference leading Southeastern Louisiana concludes that stretch and will set the tone for the remainder of the regular season. A loss by the Lumberjacks Saturday could put the 'Jacks on the ragged edge in terms of qualifying for the postseason tournament field. A win Saturday would not only lift the Lumberjacks in the standings, but could also give SFA a big tool to use in conference tie-breaking procedures if needed. While it's not do-or-die for the Lumberjacks Saturday, the outcome of the game will definitely have an impact on the way the team views the final four regular season games.
THE LAST GAME: McNeese State put itself back into the conference tournament picture with a 56-43 win over the Lumberjacks in Lake Charles, La. The Cowboys held the Lumberjacks to a .349 shooting night (15-43) and also forced 20 SFA turnovers in splitting the season series. It marked the fourth time this season the Lumberjacks have been held below 50 points in a game and fourth time in the last six games the 'Jacks have shot 40 percent or less from the field. McNeese State built a 12-point halftime lead, 29-17 and withstood a 10-0 SFA run to open the second half of play. The 'Jacks cut the lead to only two points with the run, but couldn't sustain the momentum as McNeese answered with an 8-0 run of its own to re-build the lead back to 10 points. SFA mounted one other minor challenge late in the half but was was once again rebuked by the Cowboys. Hank Rivers and Josh Porter finished with 10 points each for the Lumberjacks while Taylor Moore led SFA on the boards with 10 rebounds.
VS. THE OPPONENT: The Lumberjacks lead the overall series, 18-10 and hold an 11-4 edge since both teams have been members of the Southland Conference. SFA is 3-1 against SLU in Nacogdoches under Danny Kaspar and won last year's meeting 61-43. SLU beat SFA 54-33 earlier this month in Hammond, La. (See more on page 13.)
THE OPPONENT: Southeastern Louisiana enters Saturday's game at 18-7 (10-2) and leading the Southland Conference. The Lions are among the nation's top defensive teams and are holding opponents to an average of only 55.3 points per game. Ricky Woods leads the Lions and is third in the SLC in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg. Nate Lofton leads the Lions on the boards, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. SLU beat UT-San Antonio Thursday night in Hammond, La. 69-66, and have won 11 of their last 13 games. The Lions are 4-1 in Southland Conference road games this season.
THE COACHES: The Lumberjacks are coached by Danny Kaspar (294-112) in his fifth year with the Lumberjacks. Kaspar is 75-60 at SFA. The fifth year head coach can move past Ned Fowler into fifth place on the all-time wins list with four more wins this year. Southeastern Louisiana is coached by Billy Kennedy (97-124) in his eighth season as a head coach. Kennedy is 73-92 in six seasons at SLU. He led the Lions to a share of the SLC title a year ago.
UP NEXT: UT-Arlington visits the coliseum Feb. 24 for an 8:15 p.m. match-up. SFA then goes on the road to take on Northwestern State, Feb. 26. ™
