Stephen F. Austin
James Madison
Haymon Surges `Jacks Over JMU
12/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2013
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Etech Lumberjack Classic MVP Desmond Haymon scored a game-high 21 points and the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team never trailed in a 70-57 victory over James Madison Saturday night inside William R. Johnson Coliseum
SFA (8-2), which won its fifth game in a row, picked up a pair wins across the two-day tournament. With the win over the JMU (2-8), the `Jacks extended their current home winning streak to 22 games, which is tied with Duke for second-best in the nation.
Haymon finished 6-of-9 from the field, with two buckets beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe in 30 minutes played. The native of Pickens, Miss., was one of three SFA players to finish in double figures, joined by junior Jacob Parker (15) and sophomore Thomas Walkup (12). Parker made five shots from both the field and the charity stripe, while Walkup, who joined Haymon on the all-tournament team, was 6-of-8 from the floor.
Senior Nikola Gajic just missed joining his fellow starters in double figures, recording nine points, while Deshaunt Walker finished with seven off the bench.
On the glass, the `Jacks got six rebounds apiece from both Gajic and Parker.
With a quick turn around for both teams, having played one night prior, the difference in the game proved to be second-chance scoring. SFA shot 47.1 percent from the field, but converted 11 of their 14 offensive rebounds into 22 points. The `Jacks limited JMU to just three points on second-chance opportunities and a mere two points off fast break points.
SFA opened on a 11-5 run across the first three minutes and built its lead to as much as eight in the first half en route to a 33-28 edge at the break. The `Jacks got eight points apiece from Parker and Walkup and seven from both Haymon and Walker in the first half.
After Walkup put SFA up by seven points (35-28) with a layup with 18:33 to go, the `Jacks lead would never fall below six down the stretch. Haymon the scored 14 of his points in the second half, as SFA arrived at the 70-57 final.
The `Jacks will now enjoy a few days off before heading to Denton, Texas. SFA will face North Texas Sunday, Dec. 15, with a 1:00 p.m. tip.
Etech Lumberjack Classic All-Tournament Team
Desmond Haymon (MVP) - SFA
Thomas Walkup - SFA
Terrance Motley - SHSU
Jabari Peters - SHSU
Charles Cooke - JMU
Jerrelle Benimon - Towson
-SFA-
