--F Josh Alexander, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, was affected by a hip injury during the conference tournament and scored only nine points in each of the two postseason games. He had 21 points in SFA's loss to UMass in the NIT.

--The 26 victories entering the NIT are the most for the Lumberjacks since the program joined the Division I ranks in the 1986-1987 season. It is the third 20-win season in coach Danny Kaspar's eight-season tenure.

COACH
Danny Kaspar, eighth year at SFA, first NIT appearance.

LAST POSTSEASON APPEARANCE
Lost, second round 1987 NIT, to Arkansas-Little Rock, 54-48.

THEY'LL ADVANCE IF...: They play their slowdown style. SFA holds opponents to low-scoring totals not entirely due to defense, but because they milk time. They will want to rein it in against UMass, a team that averaged 82 points a game.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I want to emphasize to our players that the season is not over. I have never wanted a team to make the (NCAA) Tournament more than this team. ... We've had losses before, but for the first time our family is really stung by a loss. We have to come together and regroup and see if we can't make a splash in the NIT." -- SFA coach Danny Kaspar, after his team was knocked off in the Southland Conference tournament semifinals.

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