Stephen F. Austin
Mcneese State
SFA Handcuffs Cowboys
1/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team turned in its best defensive performance of the young Southland Conference season Saturday to knock off McNeese State, 64-39, in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The 39 points are tied for the second-lowest total allowed this season, and McNeese State's 29.8-percent effort from the floor is the second-worst shooting percentage by an SFA opponent this year. The game marks the third time this season for the Lumberjacks to hold a foe to fewer than 40 points.
With the win, SFA improves to 15-2 overall and 3-1 in Southland Conference action, with next Thursday's showdown at rival Sam Houston State looming large. The Bearkats, who were a near-unanimous favorite to win the SLC in preseason polling, suffered their third loss of the season Saturday, falling, 93-90, in overtime at Lamar. Sam Houston is now 14-3 on the year and 2-2 in league action.
Meanwhile, in Nacogdoches, the Lumberjacks flexed their defensive muscle early and often against the Cowboys. SFA opened the game on an 8-0 run and never looked back. McNeese State didn't score until hitting a free throw at the 14:43 mark and didn't get its first field goal until a 3-pointer with 11:58 left in the half, by which time the Lumberjacks had stretched their lead to 14 points.
SFA held the Cowboys to 16.7 percent from 3-point range and forced 19 turnovers, led by six steals from sophomore point guard Eric Bell. The Lumberjacks converted McNeese's miscues into 21 points off turnovers.
At the other end of the floor, SFA carried over its hot 3-point shooting from Thursday's game, when the Lumberjacks hit 53.3 percent from long range against Lamar. SFA went 9-for-18 from downtown Saturday, led by three treys apiece from junior forward Josh Alexander and senior guard Gerald Fonzie. Alexander finished with 19 points, leading all scorers, and marking the fifth time in the last six games for him to pace the Lumberjacks.
Fonzie finished with nine points and four assists, and junior center Matt Kingsley added 13 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the free throw line to lead the team in foul shots on a night when SFA went 17-for-27 at the stripe. Kingsley also pulled down a team-best seven boards, while Alexander hauled in six. Bell dished out six assists.
The Lumberjacks' game at Sam Houston State is set for a 7 p.m. start next Thursday. The SFA Student Government Association is sponsoring a charter bus to carry fans to the game, free of charge. Visit www.sfajacks.com this week for more details.
- SFA -
