DALLAS (AP)—Josh Alexander scored 17 points, all in the second half, to lead Stephen F. Austin to a 61-58 victory over SMU on Sunday in the championship of the SMU Holiday Classic.
Alexander hit five 3-pointers, but his two free throws with six seconds left preserved the victory for the Lumberjacks (11-1). Nick Shaw had given Stephen F. Austin a 59-58 lead with two free throws with 26 seconds left. SMU’s Jon Killen missed a jumper and Paulius Ritter missed a tip-in. Alexander pulled down the rebound and was fouled.
Gerald Fonzie added 13 points, including nine off 3-pointers, for the Lumberjacks.
Derrick Roberts led SMU (6-6) with 12 points. Killen had 11 and Papa Dia had 10.
Neither team could get their shots to fall in the first half. Stephen F. Austin hit 7-of-24 from the field while SMU hit 5-of-22 from the field. Stephen F. Austin led 19-18 at the half.
SMU opened the second half with a 5-0 run before Alexander answered with his first 3-pointer. The Mustangs led by five at 30-25 with 16:55 left before Alexander and Fonzie began to hit from behind the arc.
