Lumberjacks Sink Privateers at Home to Open League Play, 78-67

Saturday, January 2

Nacogdoches, Texas

4:30 PM

Stephen F. Austin

4-2,1-0Southland

New Orleans

1-8,0-1Southland

New Orleans

SFA

Lumberjacks Sink Privateers at Home to Open League Play, 78-67

1/2/2021 7:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- In a physical game marred by 51 combined personal fouls, it was the SFA Lumberjacks who emerged victorious in a physical Southland Conference opener inside William R. Johnson Coliseum on Saturday, 78-67. SFA improves to 4-2 on the season with the action, playing in its first game in nearly three weeks. Roti Ware was the man with the hot hand for the 'Jacks on the night, finishing with 20 points on 8-14 shooting from the field to go along with three assists and three steals.

How It Happened
The Lumberjacks conceded the game's opening points on a jumper but would quickly retake the lead for good on a free throw by Gavin Kensmil and never relinquish the lead, holding it for the remaining 36:44 of play.

SFA held an 18-9 lead at the eight-minute media timeout in the first half thanks to a jumper by Ware, and would extend the lead out ot 14 by the end of the frame, with Ware's ISO jumper at the buzzer sending SFA into the halftime intermission with a 36-22 lead.

The Lumberjacks kept the lead steady throughout the second half, even briefly extending the lead into 20+ territory with seven minutes left to play, but UNO kept it close and even made things interesting as time wound down, trimming the lead to 12 several times in the game's final three minutes of play. Free throws by Ware and Nigel Hawkins and a jumper by Deandre Heckard quelled any chance at a heroic comeback, however, and SFA closed the game out comfortably.

Leaders
Ware totaled 20 points on the night, leading a group of four Lumberjacks to finish in double figures. Kensmil (15), Heckard (10) and Nana Anwti-Boasiako (10) each tallied mten or more points in the contest.

Kensmil led the 'Jacks with eight rebounds, while Heckard tallied four assists and Ware led SFA with three steals. Calvin Solomon had two blocks for SFA on the night.

Key Numbers
The Lumberjacks turned 23 UNO turnovers into 25 points on the other end, capitalizing on poor ballhandling by the Privateers. SFA also held a healthy lead down in the paint, tallying 40 points down there compared to 28 by UNO. The 'Jacks also tallied a 56.5 percent shooting clip from the field (26-46) and went 24-33 (72.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

No Threes? No Problem
SFA connected on just 2-7 attempts from beyond the arc in the contest, forgoing the outside shot almost completely in favor of close-range looks.

Controlling the Series
SFA has now three straight against the Privateers and eight of the ten games played in the series.

Next
SFA is next slated to play on Wednesday, January 13 inside WRJ Coliseum against Central Arkansas. Tip-off for that game is set for 6:30 p.m.