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SPORTS
| UPDATED JAN. 28
Men’s Basketball
Search for victory leads to another
loss
Losing streak stretches to five
games after weekend loss to SFA Lumberjacks.
By
Angel Verdejo
The Shorthorn Sports editor
What started out as an early run for the Southland Conference championship
has coaches and players searching for answers.
“We ran into the same problem,” coach Eddie McCarter said.
“We got in a situation where we didn’t get good shots.
“They stepped it up defensively, and we couldn’t respond
well inside. We’ve got to step it up.”
The Mavericks, losing 76-62 Saturday to Stephen F. Austin, have
extended their losing streak to five conference games. Similar to
the previous four games, UTA battled their opponents only to come
out losing each time.
“It’s getting bad,” junior forward Derrick Obasohan
said. “We’re 3-0, and now its been five in a row.”
Saturday, the Mavericks looked to be in control, leading 33-26 at
halftime and holding the Lumberjacks to 38 percent shooting and
0-5 from the three-point line. Offensively, the Mavericks, led by
Steven Thomas’ 10 first-half points, hit 54 percent from the
floor. UTA also received help from its interior, with center Roy
Johnson and forward Mack Callier scoring six and eight first-half
points, respectively.
It was in the second half the Lumberjacks neutralized UTA inside,
allowing Johnson and Callier to score only two points each in the
final 20 minutes. Thomas was able to work around Stephen F. Austin’s
zone defense, finishing the game with 18 points, one behind Josh
Daniel’s game-high 19.
“In the second half, we couldn’t get it going,” Callier
said. “Our shots weren’t falling, and it seemed like we
quit playing defense.”
Stephen F. Austin improved from its first-half shooting woes to
hit 58 percent of attempts in the second half and 47 percent for
the game. Players have said the team’s inability to play two
strong halves cost them on recent games, including Saturday.
Obasohan, one of UTA’s main scoring threats, left the game
in the middle of the second half after being hit in the face while
driving into the goal. Obasohan said he was poked in the eye and
left the William R. Johnson Coliseum floor, going to the tunnel
so trainers could check his condition.
“When I left, we were up six. When I got back, we were down
by 12,” he said. “I wanted to get back in the game, but
I was seeing double.”
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SFA
76, UTA 62
SFA 26 50 — 76
UTA 33 29 — 62
Points — UTA: M. Callier 2-5 4-4 4, R. Johnson
5-12 0-0 10, J. Daniel 5-11 7-8 19, K. Howell 2-2 0-0
4, B. Dawkins 0-4 1-2 1, D. Beacham 0-1 2-2 2, S. Thomas
7-12 4-5 18. Totals 21-53 18-21 62.
SFA: J. Gast 3-8 0-0 7, S. Ozier 3-6 3-4 9, T. Moore
1-4 0-0 2, B. Hunt 1-3 2-2 5, B. Banks 6-10 2-2 15,
M. Clark 2-6 8-11 12, D. Sanders 2-4 0-0 4, D. Russell
0-0 1-2 1, J. Darty 0-0 2-2 2, P. Green 6-8 2-3 14,
A. Burks 1-4 1-2 3, R. Wright 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-55
21-28 76.
Rebounds: UTA 33 (S. Thomas 9) SFA 30 (S. Ozier 6).
Assists: UTA 9 (M. Callier 3) SFA 6 (J. Gast 1, S. Ozier
1, B. Banks 1, M. Clark 1, P. Green 1, R. Wright 1).
Blocks: UTA 5 (M. Callier 2) SFA 1 (D. Sanders 1).
Steals: UTA 1 (D. Beacham 1) SFA 9 (B. Banks 5).
Attendance: 3,039.
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