SFA Comes up Short 56-49 in Defensive Showdown

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Stephen F. Austin just couldn’t get their offense on track tonight and suffered a 56-49 loss to Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs improve to7-2 on the season and the Lumberjacks fall to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Jalil Beaubrun won the opening tip-off which was followed by Clayton Southwick’s layup that gave SFA an early 2-0 lead.  SFA held the Bulldogs scoreless until the 17:28 when the Bulldogs scored four straight, the final two from the free throw line.

Both offenses had trouble finding the bottom of the net through the bulk of the first half.  The Lumberjacks held a 10-8 lead through the first ten minutes of play. Following a 9-0 run by the Bulldogs, SFA found themselves at a 17-10 deficit with 7:29 remaining in the opening half.  Louisiana Tech was dominated on the offensive boards all night long as SFA totaled 14 to the Bulldog’s five.

After Latrell Jossell hit from behind the arc, SFA went into the half trailing 29-21.  Matt Hayman was the Lumberjacks leading scorer after twenty minutes.  He had seven points on 3-for-7 shooting and posted seven rebounds along with a steal.In the first minute of the second half SFA had a run of five points.  AJ Cajuste’s two free throws cut the Bulldogs lead to 36-30 with 15:17 remaining in the second half.  Both team’s defenses kept control of the game as both offense’s struggles continued through the majority of the second half.  With ten minutes left in the game SFA trailed 42-33.

With eight minutes remaining in the second half SFA shot 11-for-52 (21.2%) and 1-for-13 (7.7%) from three-point range.  The offensive woes for both teams continued through the remainder of the game.  SFA closed the game out on a 6-0 run that cut the deficit to 52-49 with :22.5 remaining.  Louisiana Tech closed out the game with a couple of made free throws.  Stephen F. Austin dropped the non-conference matchup 56-49 to the Bulldogs. 

Matt Hayman was named Player of the Game for SFA with his seven points, 11 rebounds and one assist.  AJ Cajuste finished as the ‘Jacks leading scorer.  He posted nine points, four rebounds and one assist. 

SFA will be back in action on Saturday December 12th when they travel to Arena Auditorium to face the Wyoming Cowboys (4-3, 0-0) in a non-conference game.  The ‘Jacks will be back in William R. Johnson Coliseum on December 19th when they will host the New Mexico State Aggies.

By: Jace Green, Assistant for Strategic Communications