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    'Jacks Head To Louisiana For Two Game Road Trip
    Winners of six straight, the 'Jacks head to Thibodaux and Hammond for games Thursday and Saturday.
    F Taylor Moore and the 'Jacks in action Thursday.
    F Taylor Moore and the 'Jacks in action Thursday.

    Jan. 8, 2003

    The 'Jacks take their first extended Southland Conference road trip this week with games at Nicholls State on Thursday, and at Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night. SFA embarks on the two game swing riding a six game win streak and a 3-0 start in Southland Conference play.

    SFA remains the SLC's top scoring team, averaging 79.7 ppg, and is tied for fourth in the SLC in scoring defense giving up 68.5 ppg. The 'Jacks are also the top free throw shooting team in the conference, averaging 71.6 percent at the free throw line. SFA is also the toughest team in the conference to rebound against, allowing opponents an average of 31.8 rpg.

    Danny Kaspar continues to utilize his bench with 10 Lumberjacks averaging at least 11 minutes of action per game. No one is averaging more than 25 minutes a night, with Marcus Clark leading the way, playing an average of 24.9 minutes per game. The scoring is also balanced with only two Lumberjacks, F Antonio Burks (11.8 ppg) and C Percy Green (11.3 ppg), in double figures. In all, eight different Lumberjacks are averaging at least 5.5 ppg, with seven members of the squad over six points per game.

    G Marcus Clark remains the catalyst for the current hot streak. Over the past five games, Clark is averaging 12.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 5.2 assists per game. His assist to turnover ratio during the winning streak stands at 2:1.

    THE OPPONENTS

    Nicholls State enters the week at 2-10, (0-4) riding a seven game losing streak. The Colonels are averaging only 49.4 ppg, but are the second in the SLC in scoring defense allowing only 67.3 ppg. The Colonels are shooting .442 from the floor and .322 from behind the 3-point stripe. G Earnest Porter leads Nicholls State in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg.

    Southeastern Louisiana is 4-7, (2-2) on the year following two straight road losses to Lamar and Sam Houston. SLU opened SLC play with wins over Nicholls State (68-60) and at home over Northwestern State (51-49). SLU leads the SLC in turnover margin at +3.91. The Lions stand ninth in the SLC in both field goal (.396) and 3-point field goal (.298) percentage. G Amir Abdur-Rahim leads the Lions with his 14.1 ppg average. F Gary Solomon is adding 13.4 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 5.0 rpg.