Stephen F. Austin
Marshall
SFA Rallies Past Marshall In OT
11/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2013
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior Jacob Parker recorded a career-high 31 points and 11 rebounds in the first double-double of his career, as the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team took down Marshall 80-73 in overtime Thursday night inside the Cam Henderson Center as part of the First Bank and Trust Company Roundball Showcase.
SFA (3-1) outscored the Thundering Herd (2-2) 13-6 in overtime in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Parker's 31 points, as part of his double-double, marks the first time a `Jack has scored 30 points or more since Jereal Scott put up 30 against Wiley College (12/17/11). The native of Bixby, Okla., was 12-of-15 from the floor, while making all three attempts from beyond the arc and four of his five free throws. Parker was one of three SFA players to score in double-figures, joined by senior Nikola Gajic (13) and sophomore Thomas Walkup (10).
Senior Desmond Haymon finished with nine points and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, as he hit three consecutive free throws with one second remaining in regulation to tie the game up 67-67 and send it into overtime.
The `Jacks, as a team, made the most of their time at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-22 (.773) attempts, while MU was just 8-of-24. The 17-8 disparity in points off free throws proved to be the difference, as the Thundering Herd shot 1-for-10 from the line in the first half.
In all, there were 12 lead changes, with SFA prevailing in the end.
The `Jacks took an early lead, but MU quickly kept pace. The two teams traded the lead nine times in the first half before the Thundering Herd to a 32-30 edge into the half.
SFA played from behind for 19:12 of the second half, holding the lead for just 48 seconds after a made free throw from Walkup. Down 67-64, Haymon drew a foul from MU's TyQuane Goard with one second remaining. Haymon, proved to be the savior, hit all three of his free throws to send the game into overtime.
The `Jacks quickly took the lead on a three-pointer from Parker in overtime and held on the rest of the way for the 80-73 come-from-behind victory.
SFA closes its four-game road stretch, with its second game of the Roundball Showcase. The `Jacks will face East Tennessee State Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3:00 p.m. in Johnson City, TN.
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