|
Texas State Presses On
Jan. 28, 2008
Nacogdoches, Texas - Shifting from South to East, the Texas State Bobcats will travel with the same passion that took a 79-73 victory over Texas-San Antonio to Nacogdoches, where they will face the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum. The game marks the close of a two-game road stint and with a victory will shut down an 8-0 home-winning streak boasted by the `Jacks. Texas State is at an even 4-4 record on the road and 2-1 in conference action away from Strahan Coliseum. After a haughty outing with Texas-San Antonio, the Bobcats are now 10-9 overall and 3-3 in the league, a rank that places them right in the mix of a competitive conference slate. In their last outing, the Bobcats muscled for a second-half comeback against the Roadrunners; One that each Bobcat nearly doubled their first half showings in the final period of regulation. Newcomer Ryan White notched a career-high 17 points, while three other finished in double figures in the victory. The Lumberjacks are coming off a bittersweet 58-57 loss to Sam Houston State. Before the meeting, the `Jacks were off to a three-game winning streak, including a 48-45 road win over Southeastern Louisiana. The loss marks only the third defeat for SFA for a 15-3 season outing. SFA was successful in their non-conference schedule, a showing the included a surprising 66-62 road victory at Oklahoma. The `Jacks have dropped two SLC bids so far, but have yet to lose at home this season. Josh Alexander heads the troop for SFA, averaging 16.9 points per outing, along with 5.4 rebounds. The junior has taken Southland Conference Player of the Week accolades three times this season, including back-to-back honors in the last week of December and the opening week of January. As a team, the Jacks are opposite the `Cats, leading the conference with its scoring defense, limiting their opponents to just 53.9 points to their 66.7 average outing. The Bobcats, contrastingly, are first in scoring offense with an 84.6 scoring average and next to last in scoring defense allowing 83.8.
At the top of the key, we will see Brent Benson and Alexander battle from the arc. The shooters rank seventh and first respectively, in the conference, connecting for over three three-pointers each appearance. Defensively Brandon Thomas and Eric Bell will face off, taking the fourth and second-best marking in the league, respectively as well. Thomas averages 2.16 steals an outing, while Bell jumps ahead with 2.28. The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series 92-66. The Bobcats last victory over the foe came in 2003 in a March 1 outing at Strahan Coliseum, where the Bobcats edged by in a 60-58 victory. Two years prior, the `Cats beat the Lumberjacks on the road, 54-53. Wednesday night's tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Nacogdoches and can be heard online at www.txstatebobcats.com through the Listen Live link on the schedule. |
