Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas
Lumberjacks Fall at Arkansas
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2006
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team went toe-to-toe with the University of Arkansas for nearly 29 of the 40 minutes in Saturday's game at Bud Walton Arena. But SFA was done in by a pair of untimely scoring droughts -- one in each half -- and the Razorbacks pulled away late to post a 70-59 win. The loss moves SFA to 1-2 on the season, while Arkansas improves to 2-0.
After opening the year with a 92-52 win over Southeastern Missouri State, the Razorbacks had to work for Saturday's victory. SFA held the lead in the game three different times, including a five-point edge (19-14) midway through the first half. SFA was up, 23-19, with 10:39 left in the half, but the Lumberjacks hit a seven-minute cold spell shortly thereafter, and Arkansas went ahead by six (29-23). SFA went to halftime trailing by four, 35-31.
Arkansas stretched its lead to 10 (43-33) early in the second half, before SFA charged back with a 14-3 run to take a 47-46 edge with 12 minutes left in the game. But the Lumberjacks again found a lid over their basket. The scoring drought lasted just four minutes this time, but proved more costly. Arkansas took advantage and regained the lead, then extended it back into double digits, and led SFA by 12 (59-47) before sophomore forward Josh Alexander stopped the bleeding with a free throw at the eight-minute mark. This time, though, the Lumberjacks were out of comebacks, and Arkansas held SFA at arm's length down the stretch.
Sophomore forward Matt Kingsley scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Lumberjacks in both categories. The 18 points are a season high and tie Kingsley's career best. He was joined in double figures by Alexander, who scored 12 points, and senior guard Chaz Dykes, who finished with 10.
Arkansas' Sonny Weems led all players with 24 points and 11 rebounds. He was one of four Razorbacks to reach double figures. Freshman guard Patrick Beverley, who scored 29 points in Arkansas' season-opener, was held to just five points on 2-of-5 shooting.
The Lumberjacks seem to have cured the turnover problems from their first two games of the year. SFA committed 21 turnovers in its season opener and 19 in its second game, a 59-53 loss at TCU. Saturday night, SFA gave the ball up 14 times, while forcing 15 Arkansas turnovers. The Lumberjacks made the Razorbacks' mistakes hurt, outscoring Arkansas in points off turnovers, 22-16. SFA also led in fast-break points (4-2) and bench points (11-6). Despite giving up a healthy amount of height to the Razorback frontcourt, the Lumberjacks hung close in both points in the paint (28-32) and second-chance points (10-13).
SFA will return to action Tuesday, when the Lumberjacks host Schreiner University. The game against the Mountaineers is set to start at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
-- SFA --
