Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
Sam Knocks Off SFA
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2010
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Gilberto Clavell scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead Sam Houston State to a 66-57 win over Stephen F. Austin Saturday in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. The game featured 16 lead changes and three ties and was not decided until an Ashton Mitchell steal and lay-up with 3:12 to play gave Sam Houston an eight point lead.
The win moves the Bearkats to 9-5 on the season and 1-0 in league play. SFA (10-4, 0-1) suffered its first loss in four tries.
After going to halftime down seven (29-22) SFA used a 7-0 run early in the second period to go from a 38-32 deficit to a one-point lead with 12:40 to play. It was the Lumberjacks' first lead since a 9-8 advantage with 13:40 left in the first period.
The second-half run consisted of a Will Reinke jumper followed by a layup and foul shot by Eddie Williams to get within a point at 38-37. After a missed 3-point attempt by Mitchell, Jordan Glynn sank a layup to give SFA a 39-38 advantage.
The lead changed hands eight times over the next six minutes before Sam Houston went ahead for good on a Preston Brown jumper with 6:26 to play. The bucket started a 6-0 run for the Bearkats. Sam Houston would eventually use a couple of SFA turnovers to stretch its advantage with Mitchell's steal and layup setting the eight-point cushion.
The Lumberjacks went the final 7:02 without a field goal.
Williams scored 20 points to lead SFA. It marked his second 20-point effort of the season and the fourth of his career. Jereal Scott added 11 points, and Glynn finished with 10 to go along with 11 boards for his Southland-leading seventh double-double of the season.
Sam Houston finished with a 37-36 advantage in rebounding after holding a seven-board edge at the break. Williams had five of his eight rebounds in the second period, and Scott finished with seven.
Josten Crow matched Clavell's double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Mitchell finished with 11 points and a game-high nine assists.
SFA dished out a season-best 20 assists on 21 made shots behind six by Eric Bell.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action Wednesday when they host Central Arkansas in their first home conference game of the year. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
-- SFA --
