Jan. 20, 2010
Final Stats
Nacogdoches, Texas - Stephen F. Austin used a 17-4 second half run to build a 10-point lead as they went on to defeat UT Arlington 72-65 Wednesday night.
The Lumberjacks built a 10-point lead at 55-45 with less than six minutes to play but the Mavericks made a late run as Marquez Haynes and Armani Williams each made a three-pointer to cut the lead to four at 57-53.
Haynes then answered a SFA free throw with a jumper to further cut into the lead with three minutes to play.
Walt Harris made two free throws to increase the lead to five and after a UTA free throw, Marcus Timms made two free throws and then converted a put-back layup to increase the lead to 64-58 to seal the victory for SFA.
Timms, who came into the game a 55% free throw shooter, made 11-of-12 from the line and finished with a team-high 17 points. Eddie Williams was one of two SFA players with a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Jordan Glynn added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
"SFA is a well coached, physical team and they did a better job than us tonight in some areas," UTA head coach Scott Cross said. "We had some opportunities and held the lead in the second half, but didn't get the job done."
Free throw shooting dominated the game as Stephen F. Austin finished 30-of-35 (86%) while the Mavericks were 23-of-34 (68%).
"Each team basically shot the same amount of free throws, but they took advantage of their trips to the line," Cross said. "You look at the final score and we lost by seven and we made that many fewer free throws then they did. That was one of the reasons we did not come out on top tonight."
Stephen F. Austin finished the game shooting 41% from the field while UTA was held to just 39% from the field. SFA also held a 38-29 decided advantage in rebounding.
The rebounding deficit was not helped by the absence of the Mavericks Trey Parker for most of the second half. The 6-9 junior, who recently returned to the floor after missing some time while working to strengthen his surgically-repaired left knee, went to the floor early in the second half and did not return to the game with what appears to be a bruised left knee.
Parker may have been a difference maker as he finished the night with a team-high four blocks and four rebounds in limited minutes. "That hurt when he could not go back into the game," Cross said.
Haynes, the nation's second-leading scorer, led four UT Arlington players in double figures with 22 points. Brandon Long added 12 while LaMarcus Reed and Dwight Gentry each had 10.
The loss drops UTA to 8-8 overall and 1-3 in Southland Conference play. Stephen F. Austin improves to 12-5 and 2-2 in the Southland.
UT Arlington next plays Sam Houston State at home on Saturday Jan. 23 Texas Hall in Arlington. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
