Stephen F. Austin
Cal State Northridge
Second Half Lifts SFA Over CSUN In Thriller
12/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Freshman Ty Charles scored a season-best 17 points and the Stephen F. Austin men’s basketball team surged in the second half to win a 61-57 thriller on Monday night inside The Matadome.
The Lumberjacks (10-3) outscored CSUN (3-11) 36-23 the second half to win their ninth straight game and close non-conference play and the 2014 calendar year.
Charles paced SFA from the floor as one of two ‘Jacks to finish in double figures. The native of Kennedale, Texas, finished 4-of-9 from the field with all four makes coming from 3-point range, while shooting 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Senior Jacob Parker, who was limited to just one made shot in the first half, netted nine second half points to finish with 12 total. Parker shot 3-of-7 from the field, 2-of-5 from deep and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
Despite a sluggish first half, SFA outscored the Matadors 23-16 off turnovers, 16-11 in second chance opportunities, 11-7 in fast break points and a walloping 28-3 off the bench. CSUN, who played just seven players, outscored the ‘Jacks 24-18 in the paint.
SFA won the battle under the glass 32-26, with Charles and junior Thomas Walkup each pulling down seven rebounds. Walkup finished with eight points for the ‘Jacks.
After Parker scored the opening points of the game on a 3-pointer 1:13 in, SFA built an eight-point lead at 18-10 (11:15) before the Matadors made a charge.
CSUN outscored the ‘Jacks 10-2 over the next 4:25 to tie it 25-all, eventually taking its first lead at 28-25 with 2:31 before the break. The Matadors then hit two 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater, to send SFA into the lockerroom down 34-25.
The difference in the first half proved to be free throws, as CSUN shot 11-of-12 to just 2-of-4 from the ‘Jacks. The nine more made shots from the charity stripe was the margin of difference in the first half.
SFA quickly responded out of the break, opening on a 9-0 run to tie it 34-all and force a timeout by the Matadors. The scoring drought ended for CSUN with a jumper by Devonte Elliot with 16:46 remaining, before the two teams traded baskets over to put the Matadors up 38-37.
Out of the under-16' media timeout, the ‘Jacks took control of the game with an 11-0 run and never looked back.
CSUN attempted one final rally in the final three minutes. Down 57-53, the Matadors forced a turnover and got a layup from Stephen Maxwell, who led the team with 17 points, to cut it to a two-point game. CSUN then forced SFA to the foul line, where Charles and Parker each made two free throws down the stretch to claim the 61-57 final.
The ‘Jacks will enjoy some time off before opening the 2015 calendar year with the beginning of Southland Conference play. SFA will open league action at McNeese State on Saturday, Jan. 3, in a 3 p.m. tip.
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