Stephen F. Austin
Texas-San Antonio*
SFA Comeback Bid Falls Short
2/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2007
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks erased a double-digit deficit late in the second half Saturday against Texas-San Antonio, but couldn't hold on down the stretch in a 48-45 loss to the Roadrunners in the Convocation Center. The loss is the second straight for the Lumberjacks and leaves SFA at 13-8 on the year with a 6-3 mark in Southland Conference play.
Hampered by poor shooting all night, the Lumberjacks trailed, 42-32, with 11 minutes left. But SFA fought back with an 11-0 run, led by six points from sophomore forward Josh Alexander. Alexander started the rally with a steal and a layup at the 8:46 mark. Two minutes later, he put SFA ahead, 43-42, on another layup, this time taking a feed from Shelbie Lewis after the sophomore point guard ripped off a steal. It was SFA's first lead since the six-minute mark of the first half.
SFA had a chance to pad its lead when UTSA (6-15, 2-6) squandered its next possession with a turnover. But the Lumberjacks missed a jumper at the other end, and the Roadrunners went back in front when Melvin Smith was fouled and knocked down both free throws.
Alexander took the lead back with a jumper on the ensuing SFA possession, but the Lumberjacks again missed their chances to extend the lead, thanks to two missed jump shots sandwiched around a pair of free throws that rimmed out. UTSA retook the lead for good when Kurt Attaway dropped in a layup with 55 seconds left, and Smith scored his game-high 18th and 19th points on a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining to set the final tally. Attaway recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Alexander scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds to pace the Lumberjacks in one of their more forgettable offensive performances of the year. SFA hit just 14-of-44 field goal attempts for a season-low 31.8-percent effort from the floor. The Lumberjacks missed their season-low point total by one. Senior point guard Gerald Fonzie finished with six points, as did sophomore center Matt Kingsley. Kingsley added a career-high three blocks. Lewis finished with five points and two steals.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action Wednesday, when they head to Conway, Ark., for their first meeting with Southland Conference newcomer Central Arkansas. The game against the Bears is set for a 7 p.m. start.
-- SFA --
