Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
`Jacks Hold Off UCA
3/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 3, 2010
CONWAY, Ark. - Walt Harris broke a string of six straight missed free throws by Stephen F. Austin to knock down two foul shots with four seconds to play, helping the Lumberjacks hold off a late Central Arkansas charge Wednesday to take a 54-49 win. The victory secured the Southland Conference East Division championship - SFA's third straight division title - and the No. 2 overall seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament.
With the win, SFA moves to 21-7 on the year and 11-4 in Southland play. Central Arkansas fell to 8-21 on the year and 2-13 in conference action with its fifth straight loss.
The Lumberjacks led by as many as 15 points in the second half, but SFA missed five of its last six shots from the field and missed six consecutive free throw attempts between the 1:24 mark and Harris' makes with four seconds to play.
Meanwhile, Central Arkansas went 2-for-4 from 3-point range in the last two minutes, and the Bears drew to within one point (50-49) on Imad Qahwash's two free throws with 20 seconds left. UCA fouled Eddie Williams to stop the clock, and Williams missed both free throw attempts, giving the Bears possession with 17 seconds to play.
But there was a loose ball scramble in the UCA frontcourt, and Mitch Rueter called a timeout after gaining possession. The Bears were already out of timeouts and were assessed a technical foul, putting Harris at the stripe with four seconds to play.
He calmly knocked down both shots to give himself 10 points and give his team a three-point lead. UCA forced up a 3-point attempt at the other end, then fouled Jordan Glynn with less than a second to play after he grabbed the rebound. Glynn hit both shots to set the final score.
Glynn finished with a team-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Williams added 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his second career double-double. Mark Gomillia went 4-for-5 from the field for eight points, and Jereal Scott and Will Reinke added six points apiece.
Tadre Sheppard scored 13 points to lead Central Arkansas, which shot just 31 percent from the field as a team.
The Lumberjacks hit 47 percent from the field and outscored UCA, 30-10, in the paint.
SFA will wrap up the season Saturday with a home game against UTSA. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. from Johnson Coliseum.
-- SFA --
