Lumberjacks’ Streak Snapped after Late Stumble at McNeese

Monday, January 5

Lake Charles, LA

6:30 P.M.

Stephen F. Austin

12-3,5-1Southland

McNeese State

12-3,5-1Southland

SFA

McNeese

Photo by: Sarah Williams

Lumberjacks’ Streak Snapped after Late Stumble at McNeese

1/5/2026 9:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SFA led for over 30 minutes, but committed season-high 15 turnovers in first SLC loss

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Stephen F. Austin men's basketball saw its seven-game win streak and unbeaten Southland Conference record come to an end on Monday night inside Townsley Law Arena as defending league champion McNeese (12-3, 5-1 SLC) hung around to take a late lead that the host would not relinquish in a tightly-contested 66-64 decision. The 'Jacks (12-3, 5-1 SLC) led for more than 30 minutes but committed a season-high 15 turnovers in the loss.

The contest featured seven tied scores and five lead changes. Three of those ties came in the final 6:30 of play.

McNeese utilized a 7-0 run over 3:01 of play down through the under-12 media to tie the game at 47, while the 'Jacks went scoreless in nearly three and a half minutes before that brief stoppage. Following the timeout, the Cowboys then experienced a scoring drought failing to make a field goal for over four minutes as SFA used a transition three from Kam Burton in the corner to push the lead to six at 54-48 and prompt a McNeese timeout. Back-to-back Cowboy three-pointers followed a tough downhill drive and finish by Keon Thompson as the host notched the game at 56 with 6:32 to play.

McNeese answered SFA down the stretch drawing a tie at 62 before forcing a baseline turnover and an immediate bucket to take the lead with 75 seconds to play. The 'Jacks made just one field over the final four minutes of action as Jerald Colonel collected a long inbound pass from Chrishawn Christmas and finished off glass with seconds remaining. Colonel was fouled on the attempt and nearly grabbed an offensive rebound following a purposely missed FT down 66-64 with 2.5 seconds left.

SFA's largest lead of the first half was nine points at 16-7 with the clock just under the 14-minute mark. That advantage came behind an 8-0 run with all three made baskets in that near two-minute span coming on a second look. Narit Chotikavanic hammered a triple try on a helper from Lateef Patrick, Christmas corralled an o-board on the next possession and found Ahamed Mohammed for a three-point make and 60 seconds later, Gediminas Alisas connected with Eltramon Smith Jr. for a lay-in which capped the 8-0 stretch.

McNeese responded and cut the deficit to a possession just prior to the under-12 media stoppage, but Patrick knocked down a trifecta out of the timeout to push the lead back to two possessions. The Cowboys produced ties at 21 and 25 and led 32-21 at the 4:24 mark, before the 'Jacks closed the half on a 7-2 run with second-chance buckets from Patrick and Christmas and a three ball from Chotikavanic in the final 35 seconds.

The 'Jacks assisted on ten of their 14 first-half buckets on their way to shooting 45% from the floor with eight makes from three-point range. SFA took advantage of second-chance opportunities finishing +11 in the first half with 13 such points to hold the four-point lead at the break.

POSTGAME NOTES

SFA grabbed 40+ boards for the ninth time this season and for the fifth-straight game
The 'Jacks grabbed 14 offensive rebounds: the 13th game this season with ten or more o-boards
McNeese edged SFA in offensive boards 17-14
Both squads scored 30 points in the paint
SFA finished +8 in second chance points
McNeese collected six more steals than the 'Jacks and committed eight fewer turnovers
Patrick led SFA in scoring with 15 points, Burton followed with nine points and three other 'Jacks scored eight points
Christmas grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and Patrick led in assists with five

UP NEXT
The 'Jacks return home for a Saturday night matchup against Houston Christian inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The January 10 tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.SFAjacks.com.

#AxeEm x #WinTogether

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