NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets traveled to Stephen F. Austin State University for a pre-season exhibition game and did not fair well falling 38-77 Friday evening at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The Lumberjacks forced 11 turnovers and put up 12 fast-break points in the first period to streak out to a 35-16 halftime advantage. Howard Payne cut the lead to 12 early in the second frame, but SFA steadily widened the margin back out to 20 over the next seven minutes and led, 58-33, with 6:54 left to play.
The Yellow Jackets never threatened again, and SFA's final margin of 39 points was its largest of the night. SFA held Howard Payne to 29.8 percent shooting.
For the game, SFA scored 22 points off turnovers and finished with 16 fast-break points. The Lumberjacks beat Howard Payne, 37-27, on the boards and outscored the Yellow Jackets, 38-20, in the paint.
Tom Hermann led the Jackets with 11 points, he also had 5 steals.
Zane Smith and
Bryan Blalock had six rebounds each
The Yellow Jackets will open up the 2008-2009 season next Tuesday in San Antonio against the University of the Incarnate Word.