PHOENIX, AZ- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks put a cap on their four-game road trip with their second matchup against the Grand Canyon Lopes. SFA lost 80-58 against GCU and fell to 15-14 overall and 9-9 in Western Athletic Conference play. GCU improved to 26-4 overall and 16-3 in WAC play.
The Lumberjacks and Lopes battled a highly contested game throughout the first ten minutes of play. With 10:46 in the first half SFA and GCU were interlocked at 12-12. Stephen F. Austin found themselves in a 20-39 deficit after a 14-0 run by the Lopes.
Six straight points from Latrell Jossell cut the Lopes lead to 41-24 just before the first half buzzer. Grand Canyon entered the half on a 22-6 run to take a 43-24 lead. With 11 points on 3-for-7 shooting from the field Jossell was Stephen F. Austin’s leading scorer after twenty minutes of play.
SFA shot 8-for-24 (33.3%) from the field and 3-for-8 (37.5%) from the three-point line. The Lumberjack’s offense was plagued by early turnovers as they finished the first half with eight. GCU won the battle at the free throw line after shooting 14-for-14 (100%) compared to SFA’s 5-for-9 (55.6%).
After finding themselves down by 19 points early in the second half, the ‘Jacks would string up a 9-2 run and climb back to a 52-38 deficit. SFA began the second half 3-for-4 from behind the three-point line.
The Lumberjacks struggled to overcome their first half deficit and was outscored 37-34 in the second half. SFA dropped their second matchup against GCU this year 80-58, after falling into a 43-24 first half deficit.
Latrell Jossell led the Lumberjack scoring with his 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting from the field and 2-for-5 shooting from the three-point line. Frank Staine (14) and Nana Antwi-Boasiako (10) also finished in double-digit scoring for the ‘Jacks.
SFA shot 17-for-48 (35.4%) from the field and 7-for-17 (41.2%) from behind the three-point line. The Lumberjack defense was led by Frank Staine and Latrell Jossell who both had two steals each. SFA had seven steals and forced GCU into 11 turnovers.
Stephen F. Austin’s game against Grand Canyon is the last of their four-game road trip. SFA will wrap up their season back at home with two games in William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lumberjacks host Southern Utah on March 7th and Utah Tech on March 9th.
Tickets for the remaining two home games (March 17, March 19) are available at www.SFATICKETS.COM. Tune into Q107.7 FM radio and listen to Rob Meyers “Voice of the Lumberjacks” call all the action or watch the Lumberjacks on ESPN+.
By: Jace Green, Assistant for Strategic Communications