Moment #1: SFA Upends VCU For First Tourney Win
8/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2014
It was another successful athletic season for Stephen F. Austin in 2013-14, capped by memorable games, incredible performances, championship efforts and moments that will be remembered for years to come. SFAJacks.com closes out its look back at these top moments with the #1 overall moment from the historic season for Lumberjack Athletics. Thank you for your continues support of SFA Athletics and now let's get ready for another memorable year in 2014-15!
MOMENT #1: SFA Upends VCU For Its First NCAA Tournament Victory
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team put the ultimate stamp of success on the 2013-14 season with the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win, upsetting fifth-seeded VCU 77-75 in overtime on Mar. 21 at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl in San Diego.
The Lumberjacks, who entered the evening as a No. 12 seed, were making just their second-ever trip to the big dance after earning the Southland Conference's automatic bid for winning the conference tournament.
SFA was going up against a proven opponent and head coach in VCU and head coach Shaka Smart. VCU had already accomplished what the `Jacks sought after, a Cinderella story. Under Smart's havoc-style of defensive play, VCU made a run and knocked off top-seeded Kansas to advance to the Final Four in 2011 as an 11th seed.
In the first half, there were a combined nine lead changes, with the two teams drawing even on five separate occasions, before the `Jacks entered the locker room with a 36-30 lead.
SFA, after yielding the first points of the game on a made jumper, went on a 6-0 run over the next 1:30 to take a 6-2 lead over VCU, The advantage remained in favor of the `Jacks, despite one tie, until a made three-pointer from Doug Brooks gave VCU their first lead since the opening bucket back at the 19:39 mark.
For each tie or swing in possession VCU made, SFA had an answer. After a made three-pointer from Jordan Burgess gave VCU a 28-26 edge, Thomas Walkup hit his lone attempt from beyond the arc to put the `Jacks up 29-28 (2:18). Walkup and SFA then limited VCU to just one made basket across the final two minutes of the half, while Walkup added a layup and Jacob Parker hit back-to-back three-pointers to push the `Jacks out front 36-30.
VCU opened the second half on a 11-5 run to tie it 41-41 (13:24) and then continued with a 13-2 run to take a 54-43 (8:23) advantage. The lead stayed in VCU's favor, as the SFA trailed by five points (66-61) with 32 seconds remaining, but the `Jacks made a charge in the final half minute.
After a made jumper from Desmond Haymon, cut the lead to three, VCU's Briante Weber hit a free throw to push it to 67-63 with 21 seconds remaining. In the next possession, Walkup brought the ball up the court made a move in the paint to open up Haymon in front of the SFA bench. Walkup dished the ball out to Haymon and the senior delivered, knocking down the three-pointer with five seconds remaining and drawing the foul for the and-one to set up the four-point play. Out of a timeout, Haymon went to the line with the season on the line and sunk his lone free throw to tie it 67-67 in the waning seconds and force overtime.
In overtime, VCU knocked down a three early in the extra stanza, taking the 70-67 lead. That was answered by consecutive free throws from both Parker and Walkup with SFA reclaiming the lead 71-70. VCU knocked down a three to lead 73-71, but that would be the final lead of the game for them.
With just over two minutes remaining, Haymon drilled a three from the left elbow, putting SFA back on top 74-73, followed by a clutch jumper from Parker with 1:10 remaining to put the `Jacks on top 76-73 following a key defensive stop.
A quick two from VCU trimmed the lead to 76-75 with 41 second to go, giving the ball back to SFA. After running the clock down to 14 seconds, Walkup went to the line where he it one of two, giving the `Jacks the 77-75 lead. VCU had one final look for the win, putting up a three from the corner as time expired, but the ball clanked off the back rim, preserving SFA's first-ever tournament victory.
The Cinderella season would end two nights later when the `Jacks fell to national powerhouse UCLA in the NCAA third round, but it did little to diminish the success of the season. SFA finished the season at 32-3, raking in a handful of national accolades.
2013-14 SFA Top Moment Countdown Schedule
Moment #1 - Men's basketball upends VCU in the second round of the NCAA tournament
Moment #2 - Parker's dunk caps rally against rival Demons
Moment #3 - Men's basketball reaches Southland Conference perfection; sweeps titles
Moment #4 - Soccer claims its third-straight SLC regular season title
Moment #5 - Women's basketball claims a share of the SLC regular season crown
Moment #6 - Clint Conque named SFA's head football coach
Moment #7 - SFA claims 2013-14 SLC Women's All-Sport Trophy
Moment #8 - Elizabeth Arana's walkoff homerun caps softball's rally on Senior Day
Moment #9 - Men's track and field garners seven All-America honors
Moment #10 - Women's basketball advances to WBI championship game
Moment #11 - Men's track and field cracks the top-25 for the first time since 1996
Moment #12 - Baseball outlasts nationally-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Moment #13 - Football stuns second-ranked Montana State
Moment #14 - Colton Ross sets nation's top mark in pole vault
Moment #15 - Bowling claims first tournament titles in program history
-SFA-
