SFA Heads to Huntsville
2/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - No Love Lost in Valentine's Tilt: The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks have a Valentine's Day date with their biggest rival Wednesday. SFA is set to square off with Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. The game against the Bearkats is a rematch of their first meeting this season and begins the second round of Southland Conference West action for SFA. The Lumberjacks (14-9, 7-4) are third in the SLC West, behind Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston (17-7, 9-2). Including Wednesday's contest, which is set to tip off at 7 p.m., SFA has five games remaining before the start of the SLC Tournament.
Last Game: SFA took an early lead Monday, before Northwestern State caught fire from the floor in the second half and went on to notch a 67-57 win over the Lumberjacks. SFA held a 29-24 edge at halftime, but the Demons shot 56 percent in the second half, including a 6-of-9 effort from 3-point range, to rally past the 'Jacks. Sophomore center Matt Kingsley scored 15 points to pace the Lumberjacks. Classmate Josh Alexander added 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Alexander pulled down five rebounds to lead SFA and was one of four players who recorded four assists each.
vs. Sam Houston State: SFA leads the all-time series with the Bearkats, 96-86. Sam Houston is the Lumberjacks' oldest rival. The series has been played 182 times since its beginning in 1925. The 'Jacks and 'Kats have played each other 15 times in the last seven years, making Sam Houston the most frequent SFA opponent under Lumberjack head coach Danny Kaspar. SFA is 5-10 against the Bearkats in that stretch. The series is split down the middle in the last eight meetings, with each team winning four games.
The Bearkats: Sam Houston State is the hottest team in the Southland Conference. The Bearkats hold a league-high five-game winning streak and are the only team in the SLC to notch wins over both Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi -- the current leaders in the SLC East and West divisions, respectively. Sam Houston's current win streak began two games after the Bearkats erased a double-digit deficit in the closing five minutes of a 55-52 win at SFA on Jan. 18.
The Coaches: Danny Kaspar is in his seventh season as the head basketball coach at SFA. Kaspar is 107-85 (.557) in his time with the Lumberjacks. He is 326-137 (.704) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. The Bearkats are coached by Bob Marlin. Marlin's teams are 155-100 (.608) in eight years at Sam Houston State. He is 278-134 (.675) overall in 13 years as a head coach.
Up Next: SFA will have a week-long break before returning home to host Texas State on Thursday, Feb. 22. The game against the Bobcats is set for a 7 p.m. start from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lumberjacks will follow that game up with a road trip to Texas-Arlington on Saturday, Feb. 24.
• For complete notes, click the "Game Notes" link in the side bar of the Men's Basketball home page.
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