LACEY, Wash. – Jahmal Wright scored a career-high 22-points and Georges Lefebvre scored a career-high 20-points, but SFU couldn't overcome Saint Martin's three-point shooting, losing 94-81 to the Saints in Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball action Thursday night in Marcus Pavilion.
 
The Saints shot 51.7 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 15-of-29 three-pointers, well above their season average of 10.9 threes per game. The Saints, who dropped to No. 23 in the latest D2SIDA Media Poll and remain among the teams receiving votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll, lead the conference and are eighth in NCAA Division II with 10.9 three-pointers per game.
 
SMU led 42-35 at the half and then connected on 6-of-9 second half threes after the Red Leafs pulled to within three points early in the final period. SFU stayed within five of six points throughout the second half, and trailed 71-65 with 5:29 to play but that's as close as they would get.
 
SFU went 3-of-15 on threes in the second half.
 
"SMU is a very good team and we were not sharp defensively as a unit," said SFU head coach Steve Hanson. "We were sharp in Hawaii but that did not carry over tonight. Our offensive execution was good, but when you don't guard the 3-point line against Saint Martin's, they're going to make you pay and they certainly did tonight."
 
Both Saint Martin's and Simon Fraser came through the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic pre-Christmas tournament in Honolulu with 2-1 records.
 
Thursday's game was close in the first half until SFU had a four-plus minute scoreless stretch midway through the first period and the Saints were able to build and hold the lead. The Saints never trailed after the first eight minutes of the game.
 
Wright's career night as a Red Leaf looked like this: 22-points on 9-of-16 shooting, five rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes.
 
Lefebvre, who was named to the Hoops In Hawaii All-Tournament Team after averaging 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, scored 20-points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed eight boards in 35 minutes against SMU. He also connected on 2-of-4 threes.
 
David Penney also scored in double figures with 16-points (6-of-11), three rebounds and three assists. He was 3-of-6 on threes.
 
The Red Leafs are now 5-7 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC while SMU improved to 11-2 on the season, 3-0 in GNAC -play.
 
SFU plays an early road game on New Year's Eve at Western Oregon (2 p.m. tip-off) before returning home for games Jan. 5 and Jan. 7.
 
Fans can receive a free Back to School Haircut by a stylist from Azzi Hair Salon courtside on Thursday when SFU hosts Seattle Pacific (7 p.m. tip-off). At the game on Jan. 7 against Montana State Billings fans can participate in a $500 Paper Airplane Contest at halftime.
 
#RepTheLeaf