Stephen F. Austin
Mississippi College
SFA Cruises Past Mississippi College, Extends Home Streak
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Junior Thomas Walkup recorded a double-double and senior Jacob Parker scored a game-high 14 points, as the Stephen F. Austin men’s basketball team extended their share of the nation’s longest active home win streak to 34 straight in a 75-49 victory over Mississippi College to open the 2014-15 season on Friday night inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The ‘Jacks (1-0) improved to 2-0 in season and home openers under head coach Brad Underwood, as SFA remain tied with No. 3/4 Duke for the nation’s top home court mark.
Parker paced the ‘Jacks with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a pair of free throws, while SFA placed three in double figures. Walkup recorded his first double-double of the season and fifth of his career, netting 13 points and pulling down 11 boards.
Sophomore Dallas Cameron recorded a career-high 11 points against the Choctaws (0-1) in his first career start. The double-figure performance was also the first of his career, as the native of Pompano Beach, Florida, passed his high mark of eight points set as a freshman last season against Nicholls (2/6/14).
The ‘Jacks never trailed MC across the game, converting a layup from Walkup in their opening possession. After the Choctaws added a layup of their own on the next play, SFA controlled the pace the rest of the half, eventually doubling up MC and taking a 45-21 lead into the break.
Despite turnovers plaguing both teams, the Choctaws were only able to pull within 19 points (63-44) with 4:41 to play, as the ‘Jacks claimed a 75-49 final.
SFA will next defend their home court on national television, hosting Northern Iowa in an 8 a.m. tip on ESPN2 as part of ESPN's 24-Hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Brad Underwood
Underwood opening comments…
“We’re ecstatic we won. I told our team that we were playing a good basketball team today. This wasn’t your typical non-NCAA Division I caliber team. They are extremely well coached and they play extremely hard. They’ve got older guys, and anytime you play a Division II team with older guys, you’re going to have to play. I knew we were going to be challenged.
“They posed some problems that a well-coached team will cause you do. We tried to take them out of their stuff and they were disciplined enough, they were good enough to where we weren’t able to do that a great deal.
“I tried to play as many guys as I could and get them minutes. We have new guys and experienced guys, and I experimented with some lineups. Not having an exhibition game, having two scrimmages, this was our first time putting on uniforms in front of folks and playing under the bright lights.
“I would be very, very remised if I didn’t say that our student body was unbelievable tonight. Our fan support was tremendous. It is great to see them come out.
“Overall, I was pleased. We have some things that we will obviously need to clean up a bit, but we got 12 guys double figure minutes and we need that. We needed to get them experience. I am happy about that.”
Underwood on Dallas Cameron…
“Dallas has been our premier defender all through camp. I trust him. He is a young man that played with so many injuries last year and was never fully healthy. He is a very capable offensive player and he showed that tonight, getting in a very nice rhythm there at one point, but he is a guy that I trust. He can play multiple positions. I am a big proponent of the way he plays the game.”
Underwood on home win streak and preparing for Northern Iowa…
“We are elated to have this streak and it is something we take a great deal of pride in. We are going to play a very experienced and well-coached basketball team that almost everybody in the country has as one of those top mid-major teams. They have physicality about them. Their interior is terrific and they are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. We are going to have to play well to win, but I am excited about that.
“With the crowd tonight, I am excited to see what Tuesday morning brings a eight o’clock. It is a shining moment, not just for us, but also for Stephen F. Austin, for the city of Nacogdoches and the community. I expect us to be able to show our self very well on national TV from a university standpoint.”
-SFA-
