The Lumberjack basketball team released its full 2020-21 schedule on Wednesday afternoon, ushering in yet another thrilling season of SFA basketball. The 27-game schedule features 10 non-conference matchups in addition to the 16-game SLC slate.
“2020 has brought many changes to our world and college basketball hasn’t been exempt either, but I am excited to announce that we are bringing 15 home contests to the Sawmill in 2020-21 as part of our shortened basketball season”, said Lumberjack head coach Kyle Keller “Our fans deserve to see and support the defending Southland Conference champions.”
The Lumberjacks open the season as the squad chosen by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors to win the league title in 2020-21. SFA begins its 2020-21 slate in Bubbleville, the nickname given to a series of games taking place inside the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut from November 25-27. The Lumberjacks will be one of nine teams competing the a series of three “pods”. SFA will compete in Pod Four against Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, and Towson in respective days.
“We will begin the season in the toughest 3 day opening stretch ever in my tenure at SFA in the “Bubble” in Connecticut and return for our home opener on December 2 to play in front of our home fans for the first time”, noted Keller. “We all look forward to having our great home crowd in the Sawmill this season.”
The Lumberjacks open the home slate with a matchup against Hardin-Simmons inside William R. Johnson Coliseum on December 2, one of three straight home contests that also includes tilts against Alcorn State (12/5) and Letourneau (12/9). The ‘Jacks then hit the road for a quick jaunt over to Louisiana-Monroe on December 12, before returning home to face a tough Arkansas State squad inside WRJ Coliseum on December 16. The ‘Jacks then face LSU-Shreveport (12/18), Southeastern Louisiana (12/21) and Paul Quinn (12/22) to close out the calendar year as well as the non-conference slate.
“This was not like the schedule back in May or June we had scheduled at that time but I appreciate the hard work by my Associate Head Coach Jeremy Cox and Director of Basketball Operations Chris Keith in their efforts in getting a schedule that maximizes opportunities for Lumberjack Basketball to play on the court this season”, continued Keller.
SFA’s conference schedule puts the Ladyjacks up against New Orleans (1/2) at home and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Jan. 6) on the road to begin league play, before games against Central Arkansas (1/ 13), UIW (1/16 and Northwestern State (1/20). SFA squares off with Lamar at home on January 23, then faces Abilene Christian on the road on the 27th.
Rival Sam Houston State comes to Texas’ oldest town on January 30, while a road tilt against New Orleans (2/6) opens up the month of February. The Lumberjacks square off against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on February 10, before heading to Conway to face Central Arkansas on 2/17. A home tilt against UIW (2/20), road games at Northwestern State (2/24) and Lamar (2/27) and a home contest against Abilene Christian on March 3 lead up to the final game of the regular season, a rivalry matchup with Sam Houston State in Huntsville on March 3. The Southland Conference Tournament will take place in Katy from March 11-15.
