NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated the New Orleans Privateers tonight 80-51 at William R. Johnson Coliseum. SFA improved to 8-5 record overall. It was the Lumberjacks final non-conference game of the season.
The Privateers got the scoring going by hitting a corner three-pointer. Latrell Jossell put the Lumberjacks on the board with his two free throws. SFA found themselves in an early 10-2 deficit with 16:43 on the clock, following the Privateers senior forward Tyson Jackson’s made Jumper.
Clayton Southwick got SFA’s first field goal of the night with 15:03 left in the first half. After five minutes of play the Lumberjacks trailed 13-4. Southwick and Kimahri Wilson found success underneath the basket and pulled SFA to a 15-8 deficit with 12:28 remaining in the opening half. SFA struggled on both ends of the ball early as they had eight turnovers and trailed 18-11, with 7:53 left on the clock in the first half.
Sadaidriene Hall’s back-to-back buckets pulled the Lumberjacks within three points, as the score was 18-15 with 5:45 remaining in the half. After the ‘Jacks forced the Privateers into a shot clock violation, Matt Hayman found his first points of the night and the Lumberjack’s first lead of the night. With 3:13 in the opening half, SFA led 19-18.With 1.6 seconds left in the half, Kimahri Wilson was fouled on his three-point attempt. Wilson went 2-for-3 from the line and the ‘Jacks ended the half with a 28-22 lead. Latrell Jossell was the leading scorer after the first twenty minutes.
SFA held New Orleans to a 25.8% shooting percentage from the field in the first half. The Privateers were led by Jordan Johnson’s 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field.
New Orleans found themselves in foul trouble as they picked up five team fouls in the first 2:30 minutes of the second half. Frank Staine found Hall and Nana on back-to-back possessions to give SFA a 41-31 lead with 15:03.
With ten minutes left to play SFA led 51-34 over the Privateers. Myles Jenkins hit the first three pointer of the night for the Lumberjacks and increased the lead to 62-41 with 6:50 remaining in the game.
SFA outscored the Privateers 52-20 in the second half and ended up winning 80-51. Sadaidriene Hall was named Pilgrim’s Player of the Game. Hall posted a double-double with his 10 point-10 rebound performance. Myles Jenkins and Latrell Jossell finished as the leading scorers for SFA. They each had 12 points and finished a combined 8-for-15 from the field.
SFA’s defense held strong in the second half. The Lumberjacks tallied 13 steals and forced 18 turnovers. They also held the Privateers to a 28.1% shooting percentage from the field and a 25% from the three-point line.
SFA resumes Western Athletic Conference action on January 4 at UTRGV in a 12-noon tipoff and return home on January 6 to host UT-Arlington in a 2 p.m. start.
Tickets for all home games are available at WWW.SFATICKETS.com plus you can tune into ESPN+ or visit Q107.7 FM radio with the “Voice of the Lumberjacks” Rob Meyers.
By: Jace Green, Assistant for Strategic Communications