Stephen F. Austin
at Northwestern St.
Alexander Leads SFA Past Demons
2/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2009
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Stephen F. Austin got a double-double from Josh Alexander, as the Lumberjacks overcame 16 turnovers and a 35-percent shooting effort to take a 59-51 win over Northwestern State Wednesday at Prather Coliseum.
The win improves SFA to 16-6 on the year with a 8-2 record in Southland Conference play. Northwestern State falls to 9-15 overall and 1-8 in league action.
Alexander scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, marking his first 20-point game since he poured in 24 in a triple-overtime win over North Dakota State on Dec. 12. The senior had gone 14 games between 20-point efforts.
Alexander was one of three SFA players with double figures in rebounding, as classmates Matt Kingsley and Nick Shaw each pulled down 10 boards. For the game, the Lumberjacks held a 39-37 edge on the glass and an 11-7 advantage in offensive rebounding.
Northwestern held a 38-36 lead - its first and largest of the game - with 11 minutes to play. The Demons threatened to go ahead by four when Michael McConathy ripped off a steal and headed for a fast-break layup. But SFA's Girod Adams beat him to the basket and got a hand up to alter the shot before knocking down a 3-pointer at the other end for a pivotal five-point swing that gave the `Jacks a one-point edge.
Northwestern would regain the lead with a layup on its ensuing possession, but Alexander answered with a 3-pointer, and SFA did not trail again.
The Demons tied the count at 44 with 6:47 to play, but SFA went on a 7-0 run and stretched its lead to as many as nine points in the closing minutes.
Alexander was 6-of-14 from the field and 2-for-7 on 3-point field goals. Kingsley added seven points and two blocked shots to his 10 boards, and senior Benson Akpan came off the bench for eight points on 4-of-4 shooting. Adams, sophomore Eddie Williams and junior Walt Harris each scored six.
Kalem Porterie's 12 points led Northwestern, as he was the only Demon to reach double figures. Porterie also pulled down 13 rebounds, and William Mosley finished with a game-high 14 boards.
SFA will be back in action Saturday, when the Lumberjacks hit the road to take on McNeese State. The game against the Cowboys is set for a 4 p.m. start from Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La., and will follow the women's game, which tips at 2 p.m.
-- SFA --
