Stephen F. Austin
North Texas
SFA Wins Sixth Straight, Beats UNT 59-48
12/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Juniors Jared Johnson and Thomas Walkup each recorded double figure performances to fuel the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team to their sixth straight win in a 59-48 victory over North Texas on Sunday afternoon inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.
Johnson led all with a season-high 17 points, shooting 5-of-14 from the floor with three made 3-pointers and four made free throws, while Walkup netted 13 points for the Lumberjacks (7-3) on 5-of-9 shooting with one 3-pointer and a 2-for-2 showing from the charity stripe. Walkup also finished with eight rebounds.
Senior Tanner Clayton nearly joined Johnson and Walkup, just missing double figures with nine points.
Senior Jacob Parker, despite being held scoreless in the first half, posted seven points and pulled down nine rebounds against the Mean Green (4-4) to tie his season high.
Freshman Ty Charles and senior Connor Brooks each finished with five points. Charles recorded all of his points from the floor, shooting 2-of-4 with a 3-pointer, while Brooks netted all of his from the free throw line on a 5-of-6 performance.
SFA, despite tying its season-low for field goal percentage at 33.3% (17-of-51), forced a season-low for its opponent, holding UNT to a 29.3% efficiency (12-of-41). The 29.3 field goal percentage is also a season-low for the Mean Green.
The `Jacks won the battle under the glass 37-35, with 26 rebounds coming on the defensive end, while forcing 18 turnovers by UNT, which they turned into 21 points. Both teams split in the paint and on second chance opportunities, scoring 14 and six points, respectfully.
After an early layup by the Mean Green's Jordan Williams, who paced UNT with 15 points and played all 40 minutes, SFA responded with a 9-0 run to take 9-2 advantage. The `Jacks then held the Mean Green without a made basket for 6:23 during their run, eventually building their lead to 10 points at 21-11 with 5:31 left before the break. UNT then rallied and made it a four-point game, but Walkup hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to give the `Jacks a 26-20 advantage heading into halftime.
Both teams combined for 12 made field goals in the first half, with each team shooting 25.0% from the field. SFA shot 7-of-28, while the Mean Green were 5-of-20.
The `Jacks maintained the momentum in the second half, quickly building their lead to 11 points, up 34-23 over the first 2:42 of the period to force a timeout by UNT. However, the Mean Green rallied out of the break and used an 8-0 run to cut it to a one-possession game with 12:56 to play. During the run, UNT forced four turnovers and limited the `Jacks to 0-for-3 shooting.
Parker broke up the scoring drought that lasted for 4:41 for SFA, netting his first points of the game on a 3-pointer with 12:32 remaining. The made shot from deep, started an 8-2 run for the `Jacks, as SFA retook control.
Up by 12 points with 6:30 to play, UNT made one last push, posting a 6-0 run over the next 1:25 to make it a two-possession game down 50-44. After the Mean Green failed to convert two additional looks, Walkup drove the floor hit a jumper to squash the comeback.
The `Jacks pulled away over the final 1:14, netting five free throws, with four coming from Parker, to arrive at the 59-48 final.
SFA will be back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 17, hosting Texas State in a 7 p.m. tip. The game marks the return of former head coach Danny Kaspar, who coached the `Jacks for 13 seasons (2000-2013).
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Brad Underwood
Underwood opening comments...
"Been doing this 28 years now. Two-thirds of them have been struggles out of finals, especially at home. Everything is changed. Our routine was changed. We were out of our facility. Everything is different and sometimes those changes are what make these games the hardest."
Underwood on outcome...
"Give North Texas a lot of credit. They did a good job of blocking us out, but we didn't go very hard. It was a funny tempo game with them playing zone the entire night. Obviously, we are a much better shooting team from the three than 6-of-22, but I'll take the 18 turnovers and six assists they had all night."
Underwood on grind of the game...
"Texas State is another opponent, just like this one, who we were able to beat them last year at their place. They are going to come in here ready to play. It is a very good basketball team with two great interior players. They are a team that will flat sit down and guard us. If we don't run good offense and play strong, tough and disciplined, then we will be in a heck of a battle like we were today."
-SFA-
