SFA to Meet Central Arkansas
2/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Heading East: The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team will play its last two regular-season contests against the Southland Conference East division this week, starting with a road game against Central Arkansas on Wednesday. The Lumberjacks and Bears will meet in Conway, Ark., at 7 p.m. SFA is looking to end a two-game slide.
Last Game: The Lumberjacks endured their worst offensive performance of the season Saturday in falling to Texas-San Antonio, 48-45. SFA shot a season-low 31.8 percent from the field -- the first time all season the Lumberjacks have shot worse than 35 percent. The 45 points were one point off tying a season-low. Sophomore forward Josh Alexander scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead SFA in both categories. After trailing for much of the game, the Lumberjacks went on an 11-0 run in the second half to erase a double-digit Roadrunner lead. But UTSA held on down the stretch. The Roadrunners were led by Melvin Smith's 19 points and Andrew Francis, who scored 12 points and added 13 rebounds.
vs. Central Arkansas: Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas have never met on the hardwood. The Bears are in a transition phase, moving from Division II to Division I, and are in their first year as a Southland Conference member.
The Bears: Central Arkansas has struggled in its first season as a Southland Conference school. The Bears are 8-15 overall and 2-7 against SLC competition. UCA enters Wednesday's game ranked last in the SLC East division.
The Coaches: Danny Kaspar is in his seventh season as the head basketball coach at SFA. Kaspar is 106-84 (.558) in his time with the Lumberjacks. He is 325-136 (.705) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. The Bears are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Rand Chappell. Chappell's teams at UCA are 69-43 (.616). He is 267-105 (.718) in 12 years as a head coach.
Up Next: SFA will return home for a Feb. 12 game against SLC East rival Northwestern State. The contest will be SFA's last regular-season meeting with an East team. The last five games of the year will be return matches against SLC West foes. The game against the Demons will be televised regionally on Fox Sports Net-Southwest. The Lumberjacks will wear their road purple uniforms against Northwestern State as part of a fan promotion that will give SFA fans who wear purple free admission to the game.
• For complete notes, click the "Game Notes" link in the side bar of the Men's Basketball home page.
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