Stephen F. Austin
7-318-5/ SLC
Lamar
6-514-10/ SLC
SFA Unable to Ground Cardinals, Falls 76-54 at Lamar
2/3/2018 6:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
'Jacks suffer first loss to Cardinals since 2012
BEAUMONT, Texas - One of the most one-sided Southland Conference men's basketball series' over the past half-decade has been the one between Stephen F. Austin and Lamar. Heading into the Montagne Center Saturday afternoon, the 'Jacks had reeled off 10-straight wins against the Cardinals and had not been on the losing end of a showdown with Lamar in that facility since 2010.
Unfortunately, the 'Jacks' recent run of dominance against Lamar came to a screeching halt.
Shannon Bogues and TJ Holyfield put in 12 points apiece, but the 'Jacks simply could not put up an effective fight against a Lamar squad that boasted four double-digit scorers and finished the game with a +18 edge in rebounding to earn a lopsided 76-54 triumph over SFA.
The 'Jacks also received 10 points from Ivan Canete but mustered just a 36.7-percent (18-of-49) showing from the field compared to a 45.6-percent (26-of-57) accuracy rate by Lamar. Zjori Bosha (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Nzeakor (16 points, 11 rebounds) each registered double-doubles for Lamar.
Normally the aggressors when it comes to racking up points down low, the 'Jacks watched the Cardinals flip the script throughout the entirety of the game as the hosts finished with a 35-12 edge in points in the paint. Bogues handed SFA the first of its two first-half leads when he opened the game with a fadeaway mid-range jumper but Lamar wasted little time in taking control of things following that field goal.
Each of the game's next six scores went to the home team, but Holyfield and Gilmore III combined to score all of the 'Jacks' points during a 7-2 Lumberjack scoring spree that handed the visitors their only other lead of the first half, 9-8, with 15:20 left in the frame.
Following Gilmore III's baseline jumper, the 'Jacks did not put in another bucket for 4:30 which benefitted Lamar as the Cardinals put in the next seven points. Those seven uncontested scores by the Cardinals represented the opening salvo of an 18-5 Lamar scoring spree which was finished by Nick Garth.
Garth put in eight-straight points for the hosts, including a pair of three-pointers, to put SFA at a 26-13 disadvantage with 7:10 to go in the first. At no point throughout the remainder of the half did the 'Jacks push the Cardinals' lead below 10 points and by the time the clock read zeroes Lamar had racked up a 21-2 edge in points in the paint.
Coming out of the second half with intentions on pulling the 'Jacks back into things by himself, Bogues pumped in the visitors' first eight points to cut the Cardinals' lead down to 43-34 with 18:00 left.
Bogues' single-handed scoring push was not nearly enough, however, to counter the Cardinals' team effort. Gilmore III split a pair of free throws at the 15:14 mark of the frame to keep Lamar's lead at nine, 47-38, before six Cardinals posted points during an 18-7 run over a stretch of 6:23 that upped the hosts' advantage to 65-45 with 8:53 left.
As good as the Cardinals' offense was, the 'Jacks' was anything but down the stretch. SFA drilled just one field goal in the last 8:39 of the game - a three-pointer by Aaron Augustin with 37 seconds left.
James Harrison and Nick Garth added 13 and 11 points respectively for the Cardinals.
The road beckons to SFA once again late next week as the 'Jacks are schedule to take a trip to Lake Charles, La., in order to battle Southland Conference adversary McNeese. Tip-off between the 'Jacks and Cowboys is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday night and the game will be televised nationwide on Eleven Sports Network.
-SFA-
