'Jacks Lose Heartbreaker Inside Allen Fieldhouse

Saturday, December 18

Lawrence, Kansas

7:00 pm

Stephen F. Austin

8-4,0-0WAC

Kansas

9-1,0-0Big 12

SFA

Kansas

'Jacks Lose Heartbreaker Inside Allen Fieldhouse

12/18/2021 9:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Dylan Shackelford

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks took their fourth loss of the season Saturday night as they fell to the 7^th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence by a score of 72-80. The 'Jacks took the 19-time Big 12 regular season champs to the final minute and played their hearts out for the full 40.

After falling behind 19-7, the 'Jacks sparked a 20-6 run elapsing just under 7 minutes to take a 27-25 lead with 4:36 remaining in the half. Kansas closed out the half on a 13-4 run of their own to take a 7-point lead into the locker room. SFA shot 47% from the field in the first half to the opponents 43%. Gavin Kensmil had a very dominant first period of play with 8 points on 4-7 shooting while adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sadadriene Hall also had an impressive half, as he added 8 points of his own on 4-5 shooting with 5 rebounds.

The 'Jacks opened up the second half with 5 quick points and forced Bill Self to take an early timeout just over a minute in. A 9-0 run sparked by a few Lumberjack 3-pointers, courtesy of David Kachelries and Latrell Jossell, tied the game at 45 with 15 minutes remaining.

The Jayhawks continued to try to pull away, but every time they got close, coach Keller's men fought even harder and got the stops needed to stay in the game. The Lumberjacks found themselves down 8 with 7:30 to go and held Kansas scoreless for 2:38 and knocked down a few shots to cut the deficit in half. Following a few Kansas free throws, Jossell hit yet another huge three followed by a Hall jumper to bring it to a 1-point game. However, a late KU 3-pointer with under a minute to go by Arizona State transfer Remy Martin put the game out of reach as Kansas made its free throws down the stretch.

Kensmil once again put up great numbers against a tough opponent. The big man finished with 16 points (8-13 FG), 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Kachelries led the squad in scoring with 18 (7-15 FG) with three 3-pointers. The point guard also added 5 assists and a couple of steals to his name. Hall nearly went perfect from the floor as he shot 7-8 for 14 points on top of 7 rebounds.

As a team, SFA shot 53% from the floor and 41% from beyond the arc. Kensmil and co. outscored the Jayhawks inside the paint 48-34 and won the rebounding battle 31-28. Despite the loss, there are plenty of positives to take away from Lawrence as the 'Jacks prepare for conference play starting in a little under two weeks.

The Lumberjacks will return home for one last non-conference game against Jackson State on Tuesday, December 21^st at 2:00 p.m inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.