‘Jacks Surrender Late Lead in Season’s First Loss at Fresno State

Tuesday, November 18

Fresno, Calif.

8:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

4-1,0-0Southland

Fresno State

4-2,0-0Mountain West

SFA

Fresno St.

‘Jacks Surrender Late Lead in Season’s First Loss at Fresno State

11/18/2025 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – An off-balanced attempt, which would have tied the game, at the second half horn by Stephen F. Austin's Lateef Patrick rimmed out as Fresno State's late stretch comeback was completed in the host's 80-78 win over the Lumberjacks on Tuesday night inside Save Mart Center. The loss is the first in five games this season for SFA, while Fresno State moves to 4-2.

Back-and-forth action dictated much of the contest as it featured 11 tied scores and 13 lead changes. FSU's largest lead was only five and came within the first five minutes of action, while the 'Jacks led by seven with just under four minutes to play in the game.

The Bulldogs, playing on their home court for the sixth time to start the season, utilized a 7-0 run over the final 2:03 of play, while SFA, in search of its second road win in as many tries, went scoreless over the final 3:08 of action.

SFA hit a handful of timely threes, despite being held under ten made shots from beyond-the-arc for the first time this season. Kam Burton hit a second-chance three to opening second half scoring and put the 'Jacks up six, Keon Thompson netted a triple try from the top of the key off a dish out by Gediminas Alisas to cushion the SFA advantage at four, while Patrick knocked down another try with 5:31 remaining as the SFA advantage moved back to six.

Patrick was effective getting to the rim finishing with a game-high 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, but 7-of-9 from inside-the-arc. He buried a step-back trifecta in the corner down from the SFA bench to break a 54-54 tie which followed a game-tying alley oop by Bulldogs. Soon after, Alisas found Christmas cutting to the cup and the senior finished up and under for a 59-56 lead, before the latter stuffed an FSU attempt on the other end.

Trailing 62-59, Patrick converted an old-fashioned three-point play, Christmas found Colonel who finished with a slam and then the former notched a tough finish after picking up a steal to put the 'Jacks up 66-62. Thompson then assisted Burton off the inbound and Burton triggered in a three-pointer to cap a 10-0 run that put SFA out front 69-62 at the 8:26 mark of the second half.

The Bulldogs opened the game 5-for-5 from the floor through the first 3:30 of play to take an 11-7 lead. The 'Jacks pulled within two just prior to the under-16 media timeouts which triggered at 14:29 after Thompson picked up a steal and delivered to Patrick on the far side corner for a triple try to cut the FSU advantage to just a possession.

SFA engineered a 6-0 run over 1:12 of play to grab a 19-17 lead down through the under-12 media stoppage at the 11:30 mark of the opening twenty. Alisas bookended the run with a pair of jumpers, while Patrick scored on a fastbreak following a steal from Chotikavanic.

Patrick hit a three for a 24-22 lead off a ball screen from Alisas. Moments later, the 'Jacks used three attempts from deep on the same possession to tie the game at 27 as Chotikavanic knocked in the third-chance three.

A tough bucket inside by Christmas on a threaded dish from Thompson evened the contest at 31, Chotikavanic executed a turnaround jumper on a drive inside, and Alisas grabbed an offensive board and went back up for a 35-34 lead. SFA carried the lead at 40-37 as Chotikavanic hit a triple try with under two minutes to play, before hitting a second-chance pullup in the waning seconds to put the 'Jacks out front 42-39 at the intermission.

POSTGAME NOTES

FSU shot 59% (32-of-54) from the floor and put five players in double figure scoring
The Bulldogs attempted 13 more free throws than SFA's six
The two teams combined for 42 points off a collective 25 turnovers
SFA won the rebound battle 38-32, while finishing at +10 on the offensive glass
SFA fed in 21 second chance points
The 'Jacks led for eight more minutes than the host
Patrick led with 27 points, three rebounds and a helper
Thompson added eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block to his 13 points
Christmas followed with a dozen points, six rebounds, two steals, one block and an assist
Chotikavanic added ten points, three rebounds and three steals and posted a team-high plus-minus of 12

UP NEXT
SFA trips to Malibu for a Friday night tip off against Pepperdine. It will be the first meeting with the Waves. Live coverage links are available at www.SFAjacks.com.

#AxeEm x #WinTogether

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