The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama native Nathan Bain is entering his senior season with Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks men’s basketball and the programme looks to lend support in the Hurricane Dorian relief effort.

Several news outlets in the East Texas area have carried Bain’s story to bring awareness to the recovery effort and the Lumberjacks established crowd sourced fundraising to personally assist his family.

“Category five hurricane, you know, destroys your entire house. It’s like what was the reason behind this,” said Bain. “You know, it’s kind of hard to find reasons behind it. But you cannot question, and especially me having my faith, and my family being a very, not religious family, but we have our faith in God.

“And we believe in him. And we believe in his almighty power. You know, you cannot question when things happen. You just gotta pray, and live if you still alive. You know, because there are people back home who lost their entire families, entire generations of families, just wiped out.”

Lumberjacks compliance also established the GoFundMe and supply drive. Bain and Lumberjacks head coach Kyle Keller discussed the developments with KTRE-9, an ABC affiliate in East Texas. “There is not much you can do but hope and pray and try to get to the safest place possible. No one was prepared for the hurricane sitting on the island for so long. with hurricane-force winds so strong just sitting in one spot,” he said.

“The church got hit really hard. My house got hit really hard. We lost just about everything. We are still trying to stay positive because more important then the material things, everyone in our circle and immediate family and church family is safe.”

He said his spirits have been lifted by the support of the Lumberjack community. “It’s not just, ‘ah dang. I am sorry that happened.’ They want to be active. They want to help. It shows they genuinely care. They want to get active and take initiative,” Bain said.

Keller said that the programme is as committed to Bain and the recovery process as the senior forward has been to the Lumberjacks.

“You have to put your arms around him and love on him as much as you can. Three years ago, Nate had the chance to leave but he stayed. I told Nate ‘there is a reason why you are still here. You are still with us today to help you get through what you are going through.’” Keller said.

“That is what is great about East Texas. The people help. We went down and helped with Harvey and last year our athletes helped with clean up in Alto with the tornadoes. Those people down in the Bahamas are devastated. The Bains and others need your help. We need people to show support because they are no more.”

Last season, Bain and the Lumberjacks finished in a tie for ninth place in the final version of the Southland Conference standings.

In his third full season of availability, Bain averaged 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his junior season, both career highs.

Bain scored a career high 16 points with four rebounds, three steals, two blocked shots and several key plays down the stretch in the Lumberjacks’ 79-77 win on the road over Houston Baptist in the best performance of his career.

As a true freshman, Bain saw time in 24 of SFA’s 34 contests. He posted averages of 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 7.5 minutes per game. As a sophomore, he suffered a back injury that significantly shortened his 2016-17 season. He took part in only three games for SFA before getting sidelined and receiving a medical redshirt.

Last season, he appeared in 24 of the ‘Jacks’ 35 games and averaged 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocked shots in 6.4 minutes per game.