Feb. 14, 2007

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Sophomore center Matt Kingsley scored a game-high 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Stephen F. Austin's worst shooting performance of the season, as Sam Houston State collected a 63-51 victory over the Lumberjacks Wednesday night in Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. SFA shot just 29.6 percent from the field, the second time in four games the `Jacks have shot worse than 35 percent.

The loss - SFA's second straight - moved SFA to 14-10 on the season and 7-5 in Southland Conference play. Sam Houston improved to 18-7 overall and 10-2 in league action. The Bearkats now lead the third-place Lumberjacks by three games in the SLC West division standings.

The Lumberjacks put themselves in the hole early by posting their worst-shooting first half of the season - 25 percent. SFA's seven first-half field goals tied for its second-lowest total of the season. Kingsley was the only Lumberjack to score more than four points in the opening period. He worked hard for space in the paint and hit 4-of-9 first-half shots, going to the locker room with a team-high 10 points.

Sam Houston, meanwhile, got out to a roaring start, hitting 50 percent from the field in the first half. The Bearkats knocked down five of their 13 3-point attempts in the second half, while SFA failed score from beyond the arc. Sam Houston outrebounded SFA, 23-17, in the first frame and took a 38-20 lead to the break.

The Lumberjacks' shooting woes continued in the second period, as they shot 34.6 percent from the field. The Bearkats stretched their advantage to as many 21 points in the second half, and the closest SFA could get was the 12-point final margin.

Ryan Bright scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead Sam Houston. Aaron Wade scored 12 for the Bearkats, and Jejuan Plair added 11.

Senior center Antuane Miller's nine points were next-best behind Kingsley's effort for SFA. Junior point guard Corwin Ragland added a career-high seven points. Sophomore forward Josh Alexander pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Lumberjacks.

SFA will try to bounce back and avoid its first three-game slide of the season on Feb. 22, when the Lumberjacks host Texas State. The game against the Bobcats is slated to tip at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.

- SFA -