SFA’s Kevon Harris prepares to shoot a free throw on Wednesday in Nacogdoches. SFA Athletics

NACOGDOCHES — Considering their performance, Stephen F. Austin was fortunate to be in the position of having a chance to win its first home game of the New Year.

But in the end, the squad that defeated Duke before Thanksgiving didn’t have enough in the tank late to defeat a Southland Conference opponent that brought just five wins into Wednesday’s game.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi built an early lead, then withstood a second-half run by the Lumberjacks in capturing a 73-72 decision at William R. Johnson Coliseum.

Down by as many as 12 points early, SFA led 65-64 on senior Kevon Harris’ three-pointer with 3:36 left in the game.

SFA held two more leads before the visiting Islanders seized control, the big score coming on Jashawn Takton’s 3-pointer with 1:16 left that made it 73-69.

SFA later drew to within 73-72 with 21 seconds left on two free throws by guard Roti Ware.

Following an Islander turnover, SFA missed on two chances to win the game. Harris missed a contested five-foot shot in the lane with 5 seconds left. SFA still had possession after the ball went out of bounds on the Islanders, but the Lumberjacks failed to get a shot up to the rim in the final 4.5 seconds.

It is SFA’s first league loss after a 4-0 start. The Lumberjacks are 13-3 overall with the losses to Rutgers, Alabama and now Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Islanders (6-10,2-3) hit 10 3-pointers and won despite turning the ball over 22 times.

Peyton Smith led the charge with 12 points. Tony Lewis and Javae Lampkins each scored 11.

Harris paced SFA with 24, but the only other Lumberjack in double figures was post Gavin Kensmil with 10.

Point guard John Comeaux was held to 6 points on 2-of-8 shooting. Tyler JC transfer Cameron Johnson scored five points.

SFA rallied from an early deficit, but the Lumberjacks were outscored 26-20 in bench points and missed eight free throws.

The Islanders were 13-of-14 on free throws and held on despite having just three offensive rebounds and giving up 14 fast-break points to SFA.

Corpus Christi led 39-30 at halftime. SFA held a 42-34 second-half edge, but failed to make a shot from the field in the final 3:36 following Harris’ 3-pointer, his fourth in six attempts in the game.

The ‘Jacks are back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 15 when they’ll travel to Conway, Arkansas to face the University of Central Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.