SFA Set to Take on Lamar
1/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Gimme Five!: The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team will try to win its fifth straight contest and its third Southland Conference game in a row Thursday, when the Lumberjacks head to Beaumont, Texas, to take on Lamar (7-8, 1-0). The game is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. tip in Lamar's Montagne Center. An SFA victory would give the Lumberjacks their first five-game winning streak since the 2003-04 season, when they had two runs of five straight wins.
Last Game: SFA improved to 2-0 in SLC action for the first time since the 2002-03 season with a 66-49 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions entered the contest with an 8-6 record and leading the SLC East Division. But SFA weathered a solid Southeastern shooting performance in the first half, then dominated the Lions after halftime, outscoring them, 33-18. Sophomore center Matt Kingsley posted his second career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Classmate Josh Alexander added 14 points and nine boards, as SFA outrebounded Southeastern, 46-28, setting a new season-high for both rebounds and rebounding margin (+ 18). The Lumberjacks continued their hot streak at the free throw line, connecting on 82.4 percent from the stripe. SFA held the Lions to 33.9 percent shooting from the floor.
vs. Lamar: SFA trails the all-time series with Lamar, 22-21. The Lumberjacks have won two of the last three meetings and five of the last 10. SFA is 5-6 overall against the Cardinals under head coach Danny Kaspar. The two teams split last year's games with each winning on the other's home floor. SFA's 72-54 victory at Lamar started a run that saw the Lumberjacks win seven of their last 10 games to finish fourth in the conference.
The Cardinals: Lamar enters Thursday's game with a 7-8 season record and a 1-0 mark in Southland Conference action. The Cardinals topped Texas-San Antonio, 71-59, in their SLC opener, giving them back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Coaches: Danny Kaspar is in his seventh season as the head basketball coach at SFA. Kaspar is 102-81 (.557) in his time with the Lumberjacks. He is 321-133 (.707) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. The Cardinals are coached by former Lamar assistant and first-year head coach Steve Roccaforte.
Up Next: The Lumberjacks will travel to Lake Charles, La., for a Jan. 13 game against McNeese State. That contest is slated for a 3 p.m. tip from Burton Coliseum. SFA will be back home the following Thursday to host rival Sam Houston State.
• For complete notes, click the Game Notes link in the side bar of the men's basketball home page.
- SFA -
