League-Leader SFA Shuts Down UCA 72-36

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

NACOGDOCHES, Texas  The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks did to the University of Central Arkansas Bears what they have done to their past 14 opponents at Johnson Coliseum on Thursday night they beat them and they held them well under their scoring average.

The league-leading Lumberjacks (19-2, 10-1) won their 15th consecutive game at home, beating the Bears 72-36 in front of a crowd of 2,757. They reclaimed solo possession of first place with Oral Roberts’ loss at Northwestern State. 

UCA (9-12, 4-7) entered with the ninth-best scoring offense in the nation at 78.7 points per game, while SFA was No. 1 in scoring defense, allowing just 49.5. The defense prevailed Thursday as UCA shot just 31.3 percent overall and a mere 15.4 percent (2 of 13) from three-point range. UCA averages 7.7 made threes per game, tops in the SLC.

The Bears scored 69 points against SFA in their first meeting of the season in Conway. It is still the most points scored against the Lumberjacks this season. SFA’s streak of holding opponents under 70 points is now 53 consecutive games. 

“We didn’t come out and match their intensity, nor their energy,’ said UCA head coach Corliss Williamson. “They are very physical here at home and they took us out of everything we wanted to do, offensively and defensively. 

“It was just an embarrassing performance by our team tonight.’ 

The ‘Jacks led by as much as 25 points in the first half on the strength of 15 points from senior forward Taylor Smith and 17 points off UCA’s nine turnovers. But after reaching that margin, UCA held SFA without a field goal for the final five minutes of the half and scored the last nine points to trail 39-23. 

UCA shot just 40 percent from the field in the first half, including 1 of 7 from three-point range.

“They got into the passing lanes, they got into our guys defensively,’ said Williamson. “They pushed us back on our heels. We normally try to attack teams, but they were attacking us defensively and we never matched that energy.

“You can’t do that when you come into Stephen F. Austin’s home. They are so good, they are well-coached and disciplined in what they do. If you let them push you around, you are going to be in for a long night.’

Senior forward Jarvis Garner led the Bears with 13 points. Smith finished with 21 points for SFA, hitting 9 of 10 from the field. SFA was just 1 of 16 from three-point range, but still shot 46.7 percent overall. The ‘Jacks scored 48 points in the paint.

The Bears continue their road swing with a 3 p.m. tipoff at Northwestern State on Saturday.