Lumberjacks Cap Off Season with Rivalry Win in Huntsville, 64-59

Saturday, March 6

Huntsville, TX

5:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

16-5,12-3Southland

Sam Houston State University

19-8,13-3Southland

SFA

Sam Houston

Lumberjacks Cap Off Season with Rivalry Win in Huntsville, 64-59

3/6/2021 7:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The SFA men's basketball team wrapped up its 2020-21 season in grand style, edging rival Sam Houston State in Huntsville on Saturday, 64-59. With the victory, SFA ends the season at 16-5 overall and 12-3 in SLC play, while sweeping the season series with the Bearkats.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SHSU would jump out to an early 11-4 lead off of a trio of three-balls and a dunk in the opening five minutes of play, forcing the 'Jacks to play from behind early. A 15-2 run over the next eight minutes would vault SFA back on top, however, capping off the frenzy with a Calvin Solomon layup to go ahead 19-13 with 7:54 left in the half. SHSU would trim the lead down to four (23-19) with 4:25 left in the stanza, before a 5-0 run by the 'Jacks sent them into the intermission with a 28-19 lead.

Sam Houston would chip away at the Lumberjack lead in the opening half of the second frame, cutting it down to 42-41 with 9:56 left to go in the contest. The Bearkats later took the lead briefly on a pair of free throws, 46-45, but Gavin Kensmil and Cameron Johnson would key an immediate response to pull it away from the 'Kats. Kensmil started the run with a layup and a foul shot, and Johnson followed with a dunk and a pair of free throws to push the lead to 52-46 with 5:41 remaining. Additional layups from Johnson and Kensmil got the lead out to ten, 56-46, with three minutes remaining, and despite a late comeback bid from the 'Kats, the 'Jacks would hold on thanks tof ree throws down the stretch from Solomon and David Kachelries.

KEY NUMBERS
SFA fell short of its season average in scoring in the contest, but was an accurate 46 percent (23-50) from the field and 68 percent (17-25) in the contest to earn the win. The 'Jacks doubled up SHSU in points in the paint (40-20), and outrebounded the 'Kats 42-32 as well.

LEADERS
Gavin Kensmil and David Kachelries led SFA with 17 points apiece, while Kensmil garbbed a team-high eight rebounds and Kachelries posted four assists in all.