Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern State*
Hot-Shooting Demons Down Lumberjacks
2/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Led by 15 points on a perfect 7-for-7 effort by senior center Byron Allen, Northwestern State shot 54.3 percent Saturday in defeating the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, 72-66, in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The conference-leading Demons connected on 25-of-46 field goals, while holding SFA to 40 percent shooting.
With the win, Northwestern State improved to 15-6 on the season and 8-1 in SLC play. The Lumberjacks fell to 10-9 overall and 3-6 against league competition.
The Lumberjacks stayed in the game by hitting 20-of-24 from the foul line. SFA shot 53 percent in the second half and closed to within four points at the 5:16 mark. But the Lumberjacks' 25-percent showing in the first half, combined with their seven second-half turnovers, helped the Demons keep SFA at arm's length.
Senior forward Anthony Paez led the Lumberjacks with 17 points and seven rebounds - six coming on the offensive end. Junior guard Keith Hardaway scored 14 points and also hauled in seven rebounds, while senior point guard Marcus Clark added 10 points and three assists.
Senior guard Jermaine Wallace joined Allen in double figures for the Demons with 12 points, most of them coming from 3-point range, where Wallace was 4-of-6. Senior forward Clifton Lee recorded a game-high eight rebounds.
SFA will try to stay in the hunt for a Southland Conference tournament berth next Thursday, when the Lumberjacks travel to meet Louisiana-Monroe. The contest is set to tip off at 7 p.m. in Monroe, La.
- SFA -
