Stephen F. Austin
UT Tyler
Lumberjacks Drop UT-Tyler In Opener
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Matt Kingsley's first bucket gave Stephen F. Austin its first lead Friday in the season opener against Texas-Tyler. His final points - which came on a pair of free throws with 1:39 remaining - gave the junior center a game-high 22 points and set the final tally for the Lumberjacks in a 63-47 win.
Kingsley spread his scoring evenly, dropping in 11 in the first half and repeating that feat in the second period. He hit 7-of-13 from the field and knocked down eight of his nine free throw attempts. Classmate Josh Alexander joined Kingsley in double digits with 18 points.
Kingsley's first basket was part of a 12-0 run that staked the Lumberjacks to a nine-point lead just three minutes into the game. The Patriots trimmed the lead down to two just after the eight-minute mark, but SFA answered with a 3-pointer by senior Gerald Fonzie, and the `Jacks stretched their advantage back to 11 (38-27) by halftime. SFA would lead by as many as 22 in the second period.
UT-Tyler outshot SFA in the first half, hitting 47 percent from the field, but the Lumberjacks forced 14 turnovers, which they converted to 19 first-half points. SFA kept the defensive pressure on in the second half and finished with 28 points off 26 turnovers. Sophomore point guard Eric Bell led the charge, ripping off six steals. No SFA player recorded more than four steals in a single game in all of 2006-07. Bell also dished out five assists and scored three points.
Fonzie finished with seven points, freshman Eddie Williams had four, and Nick Shaw, Kyle Jacobs and Preston Davis chipped in with two points apiece. Shaw led all players with eight rebounds. UT-Tyler was led by Patrick Branche's 11 points.
Danny Kaspar-coached Lumberjack teams are now a perfect 4-0 when opening the regular season at home. SFA has won its home opener in all eight years of Kaspar's tenure.
The Lumberjacks will return to action Tuesday, when they host Jackson State. The game will be the second in a home double-header with the SFA women and is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. The Ladyjacks will tip off against Grambling State at 5:30.
- SFA -
