ROHNERT PARK– The SF State Gators used a total team effort to pull away from the Academy of Art Urban Knights this evening, 72-53, in the First Round of the Ron Logsdon Classic at The Wolves Den in Rohnert Park.
Warren Jackson led the way with 16 points while
Floyd Wormley and
Coley Apsay each chipped in 12 points for the victors.
SF State (2-0) outrebounded its opponents 33-20 with Wormley and Jackson each with 5 and three players with four apiece in
Brantley Bynum,
Andre Jones and
Justice Howard.
The Gators forced 21 turnovers by Academy of Art (2-1) including 11 by steals with Jones and Wormley leading the way with three apiece. SF State shot 80% from the charity stripe going 16-for-20 as Jackson was 6-for-7 and three players went 2-for-2 in Bynum, Wormley and
Ryne Williams.
Chris Salas paced the Urban Knights with 19 points off the bench.
SF State scored the first 7 points of the game capped by a three by
Nick Calcaterra. A three by Salas cut the Gator lead to just 7-5, but the Gators increased their lead to double digits (18-8) on an old-fashioned three-point play by
Damien Rance at the 12:25 mark of the first half.
The Urban Knights would not go away as they once again cut the deficit to just four (24-20) with 6:21 left in the half, but SF State ended the half outscoring Academy of Art 11-1 capped by Jackson's two made free throws to give the Gators a 35-21 lead heading into the locker room.
The Gators came out strong in the second half outscoring Academy of Art 6-2 in the first three minutes to take a 41-23.
Academy of Art though came right back and cut the deficit to 45-35 at the 11:42 mark of the second half.
SF State pulled away though as dunk by Bynum dunk off an assist from Apsay increased the Gator lead to 61-44 at the 6:10 mark. The Gators took their largest lead of the game, 72-49, on two made free throws by Williams as the Gators took the non-conference and region victory, 72-53.
The victors scored 34 points in the paint and also had 22 points off of turnovers and 24 second chance points.
The Gators will return to action tomorrow evening at 5:30pm PST for the Second Round of the Ron Logsdon Classic on
the campus of Sonoma State in Rohnert Park. SF State will face Dixie State in an early important regional match-up at The Wolves Den. The Storm are currently take on Sonoma State in their first round game of the Classic.
Post-Game VideoBox Score -----,
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.