by The grip the UAFS Lions had on first place slipped a bit on Saturday.
Four players scored in double-figures for the Lions, but that wasn’t enough as the St. Mary’s Rattlers edged UAFS 72-66 in Heartland Conference play at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.
The loss snapped the Lions’ season-long five-game winning streak and dropped UAFS (13-9, 9-5) into a three-way tie for third place in the conference. St. Mary’s (13-8, 10-4) and Lubbock Christian (13-8, 10-4) are tied for first place.
UAFS, which beat St. Mary’s 74-68 on Jan. 8 at the Stubblefield Center, shot 43 percent from the field (23 for 53) – it was 7-for-19 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 87 percent from the free-throw line (13 for 15).
Junior forward Dusan Stojanovic had 14 points to lead UAFS, which trailed 33-26 at halftime. Junior forward Kenny Martin had 13 points, sophomore guard Seth Youngblood (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) had 11 points and freshman guard DaVaunta Thomas had 10 points.
Martin topped off his double-double with 11 rebounds, but still, St. Mary’s out-rebounded UAFS by 6 rebounds (35-29).
St. Mary’s shot 43 percent from the field (25 for 58) – it was 6-for-14 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line (16 for 20). Guard Marvin Whitt had 23 points and 8 rebounds to lead an otherwise balanced Rattlers’ offensive performance.
UAFS will resume Heartland Conference play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday when it hosts Lubbock Christian at the Stubblefield Center. It will be the first game of a two-game homestand for the Lions, who will host Oklahoma Panhandle State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
ST. MARY’S 72, UAFS 66
UAFS 26 40 — 66
St. Mary’s 33 39 — 72
UAFS (13-9, 9-5): Stojanovic 14, Martin 13, Youngblood 11, Thomas 10, Cooper 9, Branham 5, Harmon 2, Cannon 2
St. Mary’s (13-8, 10-4): Whitt 23, Matthews 9, Alexander 8, Smith 6, Thomas 6, Binney 5, Pearce 3, Monroe 2, Bolton 2
