NACOGDOCHES – Playing the Southland Conference leading Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, who came into Monday night being undefeated at home, the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team narrowly fell 74-70.
 
The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Lions, who are now 10-16 overall and 5-11 in conference play, while the Lumberjacks have won 10 in a row to move to 22-3 on the season and 15-1 against SLC opponents. SFA took both meetings in the season series over the Lions this season.
 
With six games left in the regular season, East Texas A&M is in a four-way tie for eighth place in the conference standings. Only one game separates the bottom five teams in the standings, vying for a bid into the eight-team conference tournament.
 
The Lions jumped out to an 8-4 lead, but then 13 of the next 15 were scored by the Lumberjacks, including 10 in a row to take their largest lead of the first half.
 
A 9-0 run by the Lions brought them back in front, 19-17, at the 12:25 mark. After the Lumberjacks scored the next four, East Texas A&M responded by scoring the next eight to take its largest lead of the night, 27-21.
 
The Lumberjacks led 36-34 at the break, but the Lions started the second half on an 8-0 run, not allowing the Lumberjacks to score for the first 4:12 of the half. Another 11-2 run gave the Lumberjacks a 57-49 lead at the 9:35 mark and they did not trail again in the game.
 
At the 3:55 mark, the Lumberjacks took a game-best 70-57 lead, but they were held to just one point for the next 2:52 as the Lions made it a 71-67 game. Trailing 72-69, the Lions forced a shot-clock violation and had a chance to tie the game on the other end, but the Lumberjacks fouled with East Texas A&M going 1 for 2 at the line.
 
On the other end, the Lumberjacks hit both free throws to push their lead back up to four.
 
 Gianni Hunt (Lakewood, Calif.) had 28 points on 8 for 12 shooting to lead the Lions. He also added three rebounds, two assists, while Ronnie Harrison (Forney) scored 15 along with nine rebounds and both Damian Garcia (Houston – Dobie) as well as Noah Pagotto (Wollongong, Australia) added 11 points each.
 
The Lumberjacks' Kam Burton scored 19 and Keon Thompson added 17.
 

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The Lions play their next four at home, hosting McNeese on Saturday for the Fill the Field House game at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.