Lumberjacks Fall to Lions

Monday, January 13

Nacogdoches, TX

6:30 PM

Stephen F. Austin

8-9,1-5Southland

Southeastern Louisiana University

9-8,3-3Southland

Southeastern La.

SFA

Photo by: Erika Cruz

1/13/2025 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (8-9, 1-5) lost to the visiting Southeastern Louisiana University Lions (9-8, 3-3), 66-59 on Monday night at the Sawmill.

The Lions scored the first three points of the contest and jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, before Nana Antwi-Boasiako got the 'Jacks on the board with a free-throw two minutes into the game to make the score 3-1. After a pair of Southeastern Louisiana baskets put them ahead 7-1, Matt Hayman would knock down a jumper which was followed up with a Keon Thompson three-pointer to bring SFA to within a point at 7-6.

The Lions converted a pair of buckets at the five-minute mark of the first half to take an 11-6 lead, however, a 7-0 scoring run by SFA capped off with a Dominic Pangonis three-pointer that launched SFA into the lead 13-11. Shortly after the halfway point of the opening half, the Lions went on a 9-2 scoring run to take a 20-15 lead with five minutes left in the first half.

The final three minutes of the first half was action-packed as the two teams combined for 22 points with each team scoring 11 points over the final three minutes. Points from Thierno Sylla, Dominic Pangonis, Nana Antwi-Boasiako, and Matt Hayman were offset by 11 Southeastern Louisiana points and the Lions took a 31-26 lead over the Lumberjacks into the locker rooms.

The Lions opened scoring in the second half as well as a pair of early free-throws on their first possession put them ahead 33-26. Matt Hayman responded for SFA with their first points of the half with a pair of free-throws of his own to bring the Lions lead back down to five at 33-28. At the five-minute mark with the Lions leading 37-33, Chrishawn Christmas would knock down his first triple of the game to bring SFA to within one at 37-36.

At the halfway point of the second half, the two teams continued to exchange baskets back-and-forth as the Lions continued to stay just ahead of SFA with a 47-43 lead. The next five minutes of the half offered a heated defensive battle between both sides as both teams tallied four points and the Lions led 51-47 with five minutes remaining.

The Lumberjacks would continue to stay within striking distance of the Lions as points from Dominic Pangonis, Matt Hayman, and a beautiful step-back three-pointer from Clayton Southwick kept SFA to within five points at 59-54 with three minutes left in the game. Keon Thompson would drive into the paint and convert a tough layup to bring SFA to within four points at 60-56 with 90 seconds left in the game. However, the Lions would convert on their final four free-throws to deny an SFA rally and the Lumberjacks would eventually fall 66-59 at home.

Top Players of the Game:

Keon Thompson: 14 points (led team), five rebounds, two assists
Thierno Sylla: 12 points, six rebounds, one block
Matt Hayman: 11 points, seven rebounds (led team), two assists

The Lumberjacks are back on the road later this week as they open a two-game road trip with a pair of conference matches starting on Saturday, January 18th when they square off with Nicholls University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Tip-off for next Saturday's conference road match against the Colonels is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST.

TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Basketball at William R. Johnson Coliseum this season. Season and single game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.

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