Feb. 24, 2005

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin junior guard Marcus Clark was held scoreless the last time he faced Texas-Arlington. Clark extracted a measure of redemption with 20 second-half points to lead SFA to a 66-58 win over the Mavericks in Southland Conference men's basketball action Thursday night.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak for SFA (12-12, 6-7). UTA falls to 12-12 overall and 6-7 in the SLC.

Clark, who leads the Lumberjacks in scoring at 13.3 per game, scored 11 points in a 4:30 span early in the second half to stretch a 28-26 halftime lead into a 49-36 cushion after a bucket with 10:55 to play in the game.

The Mavericks (12-12, 6-7) went on a 7-2 run to close to within seven, 51-44, after two Epps free throws and a 3-pointer by Posey and a steal and layup by Posey with 8:13 to play.

The Mavs cut the lead to two, 59-57, after Thomas made two free throws with 2:04 to play. Clark then scored the final three points of the game for SFA, including two free throws with 52.7 seconds remaining to give the 'Jacks a 62-58 lead. Two free throws by Leonard Brown and a dunk by Paez sealed the win for SFA.

Clark led SFA with a game-high 25 points. Anthony Paez chipped in 15 and Josh Porter added 10.

Larry Posey led UTA with 16 points before fouling out with 3:24 to play. Junior Steven Thomas was held to a season-low six points, 12 below his season average.

UTA was limited to 30 (15 of 31) field goal attempts in the game and made 24-of-36 free throws.

UTA attempted just 13 field-goal attempts in the first half, but managed to go into the locker room down two points, 28-26, after SFA's Leonard Brown raced the length of the floor for a layup at the buzzer following a Stephen Floyd missed free throw.

The UTA freshman five of Jermaine Griffin, Baron Sauls, Myles Guidry, Larry Posey and Rodrick Epps accounted for 19 of the Mavs 26 first-half points.

UTA returns to action Saturday when they travel to Texas-San Antonio. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin 66, Texas-Arlington 58

Texas-Arlington (12-12, 6-7)

Griffin 3-4 2-3 8, Thomas 2-5 2-3 6, Henderson 01 0-0 0, Howell 1-4 3-5 5, Floyd 2-3 2-4 8, Dawkins 1-1 0-0 3, Epps 0-2 6-6 6, Guidry 0-1 4-6 4, Sauls 1-3 0-0 2, Neukomm 0-0 0-0 0, Posey 5-7 5-9 16. Totals: 15-31 24-36 58.

Stephen F. Austin (12-12, 6-7)

Weaver 1-6 0-0 2, Paez 4-9 6-6 15, Moore 1-3 1-3 3, Clark 9-13 6-7 25, Brown 1-3 2-2 5, Simon 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 0-3 0-0 0, Porter 4-10 0-0 10, Segantim 0-5 0-0 0, Rivers 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 23-55 15-18 66.

Halftime: SFA 28, UTA 26. Three-point field goals: UTA 4-11 (Floyd 2-3, Dawkins 1-1, Posey 1-1, Guidry 01, Epps 0-2, Sauls 0-1), SFA 5-22 (Porter 2-6, Paez 1-3, Clark -13, Brown 1-3, Segantim 0-4, Weaver 0-2). Rebounds: UTA 26 (Thomas 7), 30 (Paez 8). Assists: UTA 7 (Howell, Epps 2 each), SFA 11 (Paez 3). Turnovers: UTA 16 (Howell 6), SFA 13 (Brown 4). Blocks: UTA 1 (Griffin), SFA 1 (Moore). Steals: UTA 4 (Posey 2), SFA 7 (Paez, Moore and Brown 2). Fouls: UTA 20, SFA 27. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Att.: 1,013.

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