SFA Hosts Demons on FSN-SW
2/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - In the Spotlight: The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team will share a regional television audience and the attention of the entire Southland Conference Monday when it hosts SLC East division heavyweight Northwestern State. The interdivisional rivalry game is set to start at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. It is the only SLC basketball game scheduled for Monday night and will be televised on Fox Sports Net Southwest. SFA brings a 14-8 season mark and a 7-3 SLC record to the contest. The Lumberjacks are currently third in the SLC West. The Demons are 12-10 overall and 7-3 in league play, where they hold the top spot in the SLC East.
Last Game: SFA bounced back from a two-game slide with a 60-54 victory at Central Arkansas on Wednesday. UCA blocked eight Lumberjack shots in the game, but the 'Jacks overcame the SLC's top shot-blocking unit by hitting 46 percent from the field and outrebounding the Bears, 37-26. Senior center Antuane Miller and sophomore forward Josh Alexander scored 14 points each to lead SFA. Miller tied his season-best on the boards with a team-high eight rebounds. Senior point guard Gerald Fonzie added nine points, and junior forward Scott Weaver pulled down seven rebounds.
vs. Northwestern State: The Demons hold a 56-45 edge in the series, which started in 1945. SFA is 5-6 against Northwestern State under current head coach Danny Kaspar. The Lumberjacks are 3-3 against the Demons at home under Kaspar. Northwestern State has won three straight in the rivalry, including a 72-66 verdict in the teams' only meeting last season.
The Demons: Northwestern State is 12-10 for the season and 7-3 in SLC action. They are coming off their first defeat in seven games, a 90-80 home loss to Sam Houston State. The Demons won the Southland last year with a 15-1 league record. After winning the SLC Tournament, Northwestern upset Iowa, 64-63, in the first round of the NCAA Championships, marking the first NCAA Tournament win by an SLC school since 1985.
The Coaches: Danny Kaspar is in his seventh season as the head basketball coach at SFA. Kaspar is 107-84 (.560) in his time with the Lumberjacks. He is 326-136 (.706) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. The Demons are coached by Mike McConathy, now in his eighth season at Northwestern State. McConathy has guided the Demons to a 125-111 (.530) record in his first head coaching position at a four-year college.
Up Next: Win or lose, SFA will have to put away the emotions of Monday's game quickly and get ready for another gritty showdown 48 hours later. The Lumberjacks will hit the road Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest at SLC West rival Sam Houston State. The game is a rematch of SFA's first conference loss of the year, a 55-52 setback at home on Jan. 18.
• For complete notes, click on the "Game Notes" link in the side bar of the Men's Basketball home page.
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