Stephen F. Austin vs. Syracuse Orange - Media Coverage, Watch Parties

For you basketball and SFA Lumberjack fans (that is everyone, right?) who would like to cheer in unison as we defeat the Syracuse Orange, several watch parties are planned.

Tip-off time is 11:15 a.m. Central Time
Friday, March 20, 2009
You’ll probably want to arrive at your watch party or tune in a bit early.
- TV coverage is CBS.
- Online streaming coverage is: http://mmod.ncaa.com/
- Nacogdoches Radio: Q107.7-FM

Here are known watch parties:

The Sports Shack will have a Lumberjack watch party!
11 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2009
4601 North St. Nacogdoches, TX 75961

Nacogdoches Watch Party at the SFA Campus
11 a.m. Friday, March 20
Baker Pattillo Student Center Theatre SFA Campus
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
Contact: Michael Preston (mpreston@ sfasu.edu )

Austin Chapter - Lumberjack NCAA Tournament Watch Party
March 20, 2009 11:00 until the end of the game!
Arrive at Cover 3 at 11:00 AM....Game starts at 11:15 AM vs. Syracuse
Cover 3 Sports Bar 2700 W Anderson Ln Austin 78757
Contact: Krystal Lucero & Jason Chiappardi
RSVP at this link so they can save enough space
http://www.sfaalumni.com/events/event_details.asp?id=54838

Dallas Chapter NCAA Tournament Watch Party
Come watch the Jacks for the FIRST TIME in the NCAA Tournament!
Watch Party! SFA Dallas Alumni Chapter
Friday, March 20 11:15 am
LOCATION: Austin Avenue Grill and Sports Bar, 935 W. Parker Road, Plano
MORE: The game begins at 11:30 am. RSVP link http://www.sfaalumni.com/events/event_details.asp?id=54787

Houston Chapter - Lumberjack NCAA Tournament Watch Party
March 20 11AM until the end of game
Champps Houston Uptown 1121 Uptown Park Blvd Houston, Texas 77056
Contact: sfa_houston_alum@yahoo.com

GAME INFORMATION - from http://www.sfajacks.com/
Madness: The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team will begin its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championships Friday with a first-round game against Syracuse. The Lumberjacks (24-7) go into the tournament as the No. 14 seed in the South Region. Syracuse (26-9) is the No. 3 seed and is ranked No. 15 in the most recent ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll. SFA is coming off a second consecutive regular-season Southland Conference championship and earned its NCAA Tournament berth with the program's first SLC Tournament title. Syracuse reached the championship game of the Big East Tournament after finishing sixth in the league's regular season.
Last Game: Matt Kingsley scored 20 points to earn Southland Conference Tournament MVP honors and, more importantly, lead his team to a 68-57 win over UTSA in the tournament championship game. The senior was 8-of-13 from the floor and pulled down six rebounds to average 24 points and 9.5 rebounds in the three-game tournament. Sophomore Eddie Williams came off the bench for 16 points, including 10 in the second half, and senior Josh Alexander added 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Alexander led the squad with seven rebounds. Williams and Alexander both joined Kingsley on the all-tournament team. Junior point guard Eric Bell served up a season-high nine assists. The Lumberjacks shot 54 percent from the field and held UTSA to 41.2 percent for the game and a 25.9-percent effort from 3-point range. Behind Kingsley's play in the post and Williams' dribble drive, the 'Jacks posted a 34-20 advantage in the paint. SFA never trailed in the second half and led by as many as 13 points. Sophomore Devin Gibson scored 23 points to lead UTSA.
vs. Syracuse: Friday's tournament match-up will mark the first meeting between Syracuse and SFA. The Lumberjacks' 76-75 loss at South Florida in the 2004-05 season opener is the program's only contest against a current member of the Big East.
The Orange: Syracuse won three straight Big East Tournament games, including a pair of overtime victories, to reach the championship game with Louisville. The Orange dropped a 76-66 decision to Louisville, the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 overall seed. Syracuse has played four overtime games in its last 10 contests, including a six-overtime, 127-117 win against Connecticut in the second round of the Big East Tournament. The Orange followed that performance with a 74-69 overtime win against West Virginia to reach the title game. Syracuse went 11-7 in Big East regular-season play to earn the conference's No. 6 seed. The Orange lead the nation in field goals with 1,032 for the season and rank sixth in the country in shooting percentage at 48.8. Syracuse's 81.1 points per game rank sixth nationally.
The Coaches: SFA is led by head coach Danny Kaspar. Kaspar is in his ninth season at the helm for the Lumberjacks. He holds a record of 158-103 (.605) at SFA and has a 377-155 (.709) overall record in 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Syracuse's Jim Boeheim is 797-287 (.735) in his 32-year Hall of Fame career.

Up Next: A win would move the Lumberjacks into the second round to face the winner of Friday's game between No. 6 Arizona State and No. 11 Temple. The second-round contest is scheduled for Sunday at the American Airlines Arena.