Quietly, SFA is putting togetehr quite a season--23-3 SU, and now 14-3 the last 17 vs. the line. Win margins have been lower on the road, but SFA is adept at wearing down foes with withering defense, allowing just 41% FGs and 65.2 ppg (ranks 17th nationally), while Corpus Christi couldn't even do that much in the first meeting at Nacogdoches back on December 17, when wilting in the second half of a 69-60 loss. It was 20 points from G Lateef Patrick leading the Lumberjacks, though go-to duties have since been assumed by ex-UMass transfer G Keon Thompson, whose 18.4 ppg has him on a short list for Southland MVP honors, and off of 32 points in Saturday's 66-57 win ocer UTRGV. Play SFA

The Lumberjacks won the first meeting 69-60, but it wasn't easy. Texas A&M Corpus Christi led by nine at halftime. Ultimately, the difference was Stephen F. Austin shooting 50 percent from deep compared to 25 percent for the Islanders. SFA enters on an 11-game win streak, but many of those victories were close. The Islanders, who played SMU, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Xavier in non-conference play, are coming off a convincing win over Lamar in which they had 15 assists and only seven turnovers. They should keep this close throughout.