Lumberjacks Host Texas State
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With time running out on the regular season, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team needs to make the most of its remaining games to strengthen its position for the Southland Conference postseason tournament. Two of SFA's three remaining games are at home, including Saturday's clash with last-place Texas State. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lumberjacks (13-11, 6-7) are currently tied with Texas-Arlington for sixth place, but the Mavericks hold a head-to-head tiebreaker edge over SFA. UTA's three remaining games are all against teams currently ranked in the Top 4, so if the Lumberjacks win two of their last three, they will likely be able to break the tie and enter the tournament as the sixth seed. Two SFA wins, combined with three straight losses by either Southeastern Louisiana or Lamar -- two teams currently tied for fourth place -- would put the Lumberjacks in the fifth slot.
LAST GAME: A last-second 3-pointer to tie the score rattled off the rim, and the Lumberjacks lost a heartbreaker, 71-68, at Texas-San Antonio. The loss gave the Roadrunners a season sweep against SFA. Freshman Josh Alexander scored 19 of his team-leading 22 points in the second half to help the Lumberjacks stay in the game, but it wasn't enough on a night when UTSA shot 56 percent from the field.
VS. TEXAS STATE: The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series against Texas State, 89-66. SFA is 7-2 against the Bobcats under head coach Danny Kaspar, and the Lumberjacks have won seven of the last 11 meetings between the two schools. SFA has won four in a row against Texas State, including a 59-55 win in San Marcos earlier this season.
THE BOBCATS: Texas State comes into Saturday's game with a 3-21 overall mark and a 1-12 record in Southland Conference play. The Bobcats collected their first SLC win of the year last Saturday when they defeated Texas-San Antonio, 85-68, at home. The win broke a 12-game losing streak for Texas State. The Bobcats are 1-11 on the road this season, the lone win coming at Texas-Pan American.
THE COACHES: Danny Kaspar is in his sixth season as head coach of the Lumberjacks. Including a nine-year stint as head coach at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Kaspar is 308-127 (.708) over his 14-year coaching career. Kaspar has guided the Lumberjacks to an 89-75 (.543) mark during his tenure. Dennis Nutt is 72-93 (.436) in his third season as a head coach, all three with the Bobcats.
UP NEXT: The Lumberjacks will stay at home for a contest against Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday, March 1. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
NOTE: For complete game notes, click on the "Weekly Release" link in the side bar of the men's basketball home page.
- SFA - ™
