SFA Heads To Central Arkansas On Tuesday
1/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 16: Stephen F. Austin (12-3, 2-0 SLC) at Central Arkansas (0-14, 0-3 SLC)
Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 13 • 7 p.m. CT
Site: Farris Center (5,500)
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Stream: N/A
Talent: Rob Meyers (PXP), Kyle Rogers (Color)
Live Stats | @SFA_MBB (#AxeEm/#DreamBigger)
SFA Game Notes 
Team Information
Stephen F. Austin
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (Kansas State, 1986)
Career Record: 44-6 (2nd season), Record at SFA: Same
Central Arkansas
Head Coach: Russ Pennell (Pittsburg St., 1989)
Career Record: 93-72 (6th season), Record at UCA: 0-14 (1st season)
STORY LINES
• The Stephen F. Austin men’s basketball team will look to extend their 11-game win streak on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Central Arkansas in a 7 p.m. (CT) tip inside Farris Center. The game marks the first of a two-game road swing and will be broadcast on Q107.7 FM with Rob Meyers on the call.
• The Lumberjacks (12-3, 2-0 SLC) beat the house on their trip to Las Vegas, snapping a three-game losing streak, and the success has since continued. SFA downed Prairie View A&M (73-61) and Austin Peay (83-62) in the 2014 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena to win its respective bracket, before rolling Memphis (64-52) inside FedExForum to open the month of December. The ‘Jacks then returned to Nacogdoches, where they have picked up wins over Long Beach State (74-45), Ouachita Baptist (84-60), North Texas (59-48), Texas State (66-60), and Arkansas Tech (94-57). SFA then closed 2014 with a 61-57 win at Cal State Northridge, before opening 2015 and SLC play with wins over McNeese State (80-75) and Southeastern Louisiana (81-66).
• The ‘Jacks are looking to continue their success under second-year head coach Brad Underwood. Last season, SFA became the first Southland Conference team to win 29 games in the regular season and then became the first 30-plus win team in conference history with two wins in Katy, Texas, host site of the league’s tournament, and one in the NCAA Tournament to finish 32-3. The 32 wins surpassed the 1985 Louisiana Tech team that finished 29-3 after reaching the “Sweet 16” and set a new school record for most wins in a single season, passing the 1971-72 ‘Jack squad that went 31-3 and advanced five games in the NAIA Tournament, and picked up the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament.
• In 2013-14, SFA finished a perfect 15-0 at home for a second consecutive year, while the team’s 29-game overall win streak obliterated the former conference record of 19 set by Louisiana Tech in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and ranked led the nation for the ‘Jacks entering the third round of the NCAA Tournament, following Wichita State’s 78-76 loss to Kentucky the same afternoon.
THE LAST TIME OUT
• Junior Thomas Walkup and senior Jacob Parker each recorded double-double performance, as SFA recorded its 11th straight win of the season in a 81-66 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, Jan. 5, inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. (See SFA’s Last Time Out on Pg. 3 for more).
UP NEXT
• Following the tilt at Central Arkansas, the ‘Jacks will play one more road game on the week. SFA will play at Abilene Christian on Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.
OTHER NOTES
• SFA vs. CENTRAL ARKANSAS: The ‘Jacks will meet Central Arkansas for the 13th time on the hardwood when the two teams face off on Tuesday, Jan. 12, inside Farris Center. SFA has won all 12 of the previous meetings with the Bears and is 6-0 when playing in Conway, Arkansas. Head coach Brad Underwood is 2-0 all-time against UCA, defeating the Bears 66-49 (1/25/14) and 85-61 (3/8/14) last season.
• SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Central Arkansas enters Monday’s tip 0-14 on the season under first year head coach Russ Pennell. The Bears, still looking for their first win of the season, were picked to finish 11th and 12th in the preseason polls conducted by the sports information directors and coaches.
UCA is on a 16-game losing streak dating back to the final two games of the 2013-14 season. The 16 straight defeats is tied with Florida A&M for the longest active losing streak in the country. The Bears have not won since March 1, 2014, in a 76-69 win over Lamar. When UCA takes the floor on Tuesday, it will mark 318 days since the program’s last win.
In 12 of their 14 losses, the Bears have lost by double figures. UCA’s closest games to finding the win column came in 74-68 (6 pts) and 77-70 (7 pts) losses to Southeast Missouri State and league foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Bears are led offensively by Jordan Howard. Howard, who is averaging 15.1 points per game, is one of three UCA players averaging double figures, joined by Mike Martin (11.2 ppg) and Jake Zuilhof (11.0). Zuilhof also leads the team with a 5.7 rebound average and 23 total blocks on the year. Martin has dished out a team-high 55 assists.
• SFA In The SLC Ranks: The ‘Jacks currently lead or rank near the top of the Southland in several categories. SFA leads the SLC in rebounding defense (30.5), tied with Sam Houston State for the leagues best scoring defense (61.3), second in scoring margin (+11.1), tied for second in assists (15.6), third in 3-point field goal % (.355), 3-point field goal % defense (.311), rebounding margin (+4.3) and turnover margin (+3.1), fourth in steals (8.1) and fifth in field goal % (.449), free throw % (.715), field goal % defense (.440) and assist/turnover margin (1.1).
• ‘Jacks In The SLC Ranks: SFA has several ‘Jacks ranked among the elite in the conference. Jacob Parker ranks third in 3-point field goal % (.429), fifth in free throw % (.847), 11th in scoring (13.5), tied for 11th in steals (1.4) and 12th in field goal % (.520), 13th in defensive rebounds (4.1) and 16th in rebounding (5.7). Thomas Walkup sits tied for fifth in offensive rebounds (2.7), 11th in rebounding (6.5), 14th in assists (2.9) and 17th in scoring (12.5). Trey Pinkney ranks sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.9) and 10th in assists (3.2). Demetrious Floyd is fourth in 3-point field goal % (.406), while Tanner Clayton ranks eighth in blocks (1.5).
• HOT START FOR UNDEROOD: Head coach Brad Underwood has racked up a 44-6 career record through his first 50 games as a head coach at the Division I level. A stat not kept by NCAA, his 44-6 mark through 50 games is tied for fifth all-time and tied with Steve Prohm for the best of any active coach according to research by assistant director of media relations Kyle Rogers (See complete chart on Pg. 6 for more).
• KEEPING THE TITLE & STREAK: SFA entered 2014-15 as the two-time reigning Southland Conference champion and winner of its last 22 in league play. The ‘Jacks have won their first two games in conference play this season and currently lead the nation with its 24-game conference win streak. SFA, underfeated in SLC play under Underwood, lead Wichita State (21 straight) and Florida (20 straight).
• SFA’s LAST TIME OUT: The Lumberjacks led for all but 1:32 in picking up their 20th consecutive win in Southland Conference play under head coach Brad Underwood.
Walkup paced SFA against the Lions, finishing with a season-best 22 points and career-high 12 rebounds to record his second-double-double of the season. The native of Pasadena, Texas, finished 8-of-12 from the floor, 6-of-11 from the free throw line and tied his career-high with five assists.
Parker finished 4-of-11 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe to finish with 15 points, while crashing the boards for 12 rebounds. The 12 pull-downs marked a new season-high for the native of Bixby, Oklahoma. Parker also finished with four assists to tie his season-high.
Specialty Stats:
Pts In Paint - SFA 38-30 Pts Off Turnovers - SFA 29-13 2nd Chance Pts - SFA 12-4
Fast Break Pts - SFA 8-6 Bench Pts - SLU 32-27
• FROM DOWNTOWN: Over 31.8% of SFA’s made field goals this season have come from beyond the arc. The ‘Jacks have made 115-of-324 (.355) attempts from 3-point land, while shooting 362-of-807 (.449) from the floor. SFA’s 3-point shooting is over double their opponent in converted attempts. When facing the ‘Jacks, the opponent is 57-of-183 (.311) from deep.
• COMFORT IN HALFTIME LEAD: When leading at halftime, the ‘Jacks are 37-1 all-time under head coach Brad Underwood. SFA’s lone loss when taking a lead into the lockerroom was at Texas on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, just the third game of Underwood’s tenure both with the ‘Jacks and as a head coach at the Div. I level. Since then, SFA has won 34 consecutive games under Underwood when on top after the first 20 minutes.
• MID-MAJOR TOP 25/RPI: SFA checks in at No. 5 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for a second straight week. The ‘Jacks are also receiving votes in SB Nation’s Mid-Major Madness Power 15 Poll. SFA is currently 101 in the RPI, behind Incarnate Word (82) and Sam Houston State (91).
• PERFECT FROM THE LINE: Senior Tanner Clayton enjoyed steady success at the free throw line through SFA’s first seven games. The native of San Diego, California, was 6-for-6 from the charity stripe before his first miss. Freshman Jaxon Holden is currently 5-of-5, while the ‘Jacks are 246-of-344 (.715) on the year.
• PARKER’s ALL-TIME WINS: Senior forward Jacob Parker recorded the 91st win of his Lumberjack career in SFA’s 81-66 victory over Southeastern Louisiana. The native of Bixby, Okla., is six wins away from tying former teammate Desmond Haymon as the program’s all-time winningest player at the Division I level. Haymon recorded 97 wins across four seasons at SFA.
• WINNINGEST TWO-YEAR PLAYERS: Senior Connor Brooks and Tanner Clayton picked up their 44th win of their Lumberjack careers in SFA’s 81-66 victory over Southeastern Louisiana. The two are 16 wins away from tying former teammates Nikola Gajic and Deshaunt Walker as the program’s all-time winningest players in a two-year span. Gajic and Walker are also the only two ‘Jacks to go undefeated inside William R. Johnson Coliseum across their careers, posting 30 wins (15 - 2012-13; 15 - 2013-14). Brooks and Clayton are 22-1 in the coliseum.
• TIED AT THE BREAK: When SFA entered halftime tied 27-27 at Memphis, it marked the first time under head coach Bead Underwood that the ‘Jacks were tied entering the lockerroom.
• KASPAR RETURNS: Wednesday, Dec. 17, marked the return of former head coach Danny Kaspar to William R. Johnson Coliseum. Kaspar resigned from SFA on April 4, 2013, to take head job at Texas State. In 13 seasons with the ‘Jacks, Kaspar amassed a 246-141 record. The third longest tenured coach of the men’s basketball team, his 246 wins ranked second all-time at SFA. At SFA, Kaspar posted seven 20-win seasons, winning three Southland Conference regular season titles (2008,2009, 2013) and one SLC Tournament title (2009). Kaspar guided the ‘Jacks to three postseason appearances, making the National Invitation Tournament in 2008 and 2013 and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009. He was named SLC Coach of the Year after winning the regular season in both the 2007-08 and 2012-13 seasons.
• BEATING THE HOUSE: SFA left Las Vegas undefeated, after posting a 2-0 record in the 2014 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. The ‘Jacks downed Prairie View A&M 73-61 and Austin Peay 83-62 to win their respective bracket. Senior Jacob Parker was named to the all-tournament team, after averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds across two games inside Orleans Arena.
• NEW STARTERS: SFA had a consistent starting five across the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. From the first game to the last of both campaigns, the ‘Jacks rolled with the same five during those spans. With new additions to this season’s squad, Underwood will have different options for lineups, depending on the matchup, and in the second game of this season, he changed his lineup, ending a SFA’s streak of 68 games without changing the starters midseason.
2011-12 Starters (final 2 gms) - Darius Gardner, Antonio Bostic, Desmond Haymon, Jonathan King and Jereal Scott
2012-13 Starters (32 gms) - Hal Bateman, Antonio Bostic, Desmond, Haymon, Jacob Parker and Taylor Smith
2013-14 Starters (35 gms) - Trey Pinkney, Desmond Haymon, Thomas Walkup, Nikola Gajic and Jacob Parker
2014-15 Starters (1 gm) - Trey Pinkney, Dallas Cameron, Connor Brooks, Thomas Walkup and Jacob Parker
2014-15 Starters (3 gms) - Trey Pinkney, Dallas Cameron, Thomas Walkup, Clide Geffrard and Jacob Parker
2014-15 Starters (9 gms) - Trey Pinkney, Jared Johnson, Thomas Walkup, Jacob Parker and Tanner Clayton
2014-15 Starters (2 gms) - Trey Pinkney, Jared Johnson, Ty Charles, Thomas Walkup and Jacob Parker
• SFA IN UNDERWOOD OPENERS: The ‘Jacks improved to 2-0 in season and home openers under head coach Brad Underwood in a 75-49 win over Mississippi College inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. SFA kicked off the Underwood era last season with a 90-64 win over Texas-Tyler, also coming at home.
• DOMINANT SENIOR CLASS MOVES ON: After last season, SFA saw the departure of one of the most dominant senior classes to ever come through Nacogdoches in Haymon (starter), Nikola Gajic (starter) and Deshaunt Walker (sixth-man). Haymon left SFA as the program’s all-time winningest player at the Division I level with 97 victories, tied for the fourth winningest class overall in program history, while Gajic and Walker were the program’s winningest players in a two-year span with 59 wins. Gajic and Walker also became the first two players in program history to close their careers undefeated at home, posting 30 wins inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.
• RETURNERS/NEWCOMERS: The `Jacks returns three of their starters from last season in senior forward Jacob Parker, junior forward Thomas Walkup and junior guard Trey Pinkney. The `Jacks also return Connor Brooks (Sr., G/F), Tanner Clayton (Sr., F), Dallas Cameron (So., G), Justin Dotson (So., SG) and Jason Martin (So., G). Underwood welcomes six newcomers from his early signing class in Ty Charles (Fr., G), Demetrious Floyd (Jr., G), Clide Geffrard (Jr., F), Jared Johnson (Jr., G), Jaxon Holden (Fr., G) and Caleb Johnston (Fr., G/F), along with Bobby King, a senior transfer from Florida A&M.
• WIN STREAKS ENTERING 2014-15: SFA will enter the 2014-15 season with several national win streaks still intact - consecutive home, true road and conference wins. Entering the season, the `Jacks were tied with Duke for the nation’s longest active home win streak at 33 games. SFA has not dropped a game inside William R. Johnson Coliseum since a 51-47 loss to Texas-Arlington (2/15/12) during the 2011-12 season. The `Jacks also boast a 12-game true road win streak that is tied with No. 11 Wichita State for the nation’s lead, while their 14 overall road wins led the country.
In conference play, SFA sits third nationally, behind Florida and Wichita St., with a 20-game win streak. The `Jacks finished a perfect 18-0 last season, becoming just the 18th team to go unbeaten in a league schedule of 18 games or more in NCAA history.
• EARLY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE: SFA received one vote in the AP Top 25 Poll entering the season. The `Jacks continued receiving one vote in week two. SFA was also ranked fifth in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll in week two, moving up one spot from the opening week of the season (tabbed sixth).
• PRESEASON HYPE: CBSSports.com’s Sam Vecenie concluded the website’s 2014-15 college basketball conference preview with a “Best of the Rest” on Thursday, Oct. 23, and the ‘Jacks were tabbed sixth out of the 23 conferences not covered during the website’s preseason series, while NBCSports.com College Basketball Talk’s Rob Dauster had SFA ninth in his mid-major power ranking. USA Today had the ‘Jacks at No. 53 in its preseason countdown of the top teams.
• PICKED TO 3-PEAT: SFA, the two-time defending SLC regular-season and reigning tournament champion, was named the preseason favorite to repeat in a vote by the league’s coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Wednesday, Oct. 29. The `Jacks received 11 first-place votes from the coaches for 143 total points while picking up 10 first-place nods from the SIDs and 144 total points.
• PARKER, WALKUP NAMED PRESEASON All-SLC: SFA’s Parker and Walkup were named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-SLC teams, the league office announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Parker was tabbed to the first team for the `Jacks, while Walkup earned second team recognition.
LEFTOVERS FROM 2013-14
• NCAA TOP 10 BEST STARTS: Head coach Brad Underwood picked up his 28th win at the helm in a 83-72 victory over Oral Roberts (Mar. 6) to crack into the NCAA’s top 10 best career starts. Underwood, then added four more wins in 2013-14, to move into sole possession of third in the NCAA’s top 10 best career starts at the Division I level. Underwood passed Steve Prohm (Murray State - 31-2, 2012) and Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh - 31-5, 2004) with SFA’s win over VCU. Only Bill Guthridge (North Carolina - 34-4, 1998) and Bill Hodges (Indiana State - 33-1, 1979) recorded more wins in their first season as a head coach.
• PERFECT IN CONFERENCE: With the win over Central Arkansas in the season finale, SFA closed out the season out its conference schedule undefeated for just the third time in program history. The ‘Jacks finished the season 18-0 in conference to become the third team to do so in 2013-14, joining then No. 1 Florida and then No. 2 Wichita State and just the 18th team to go unbeaten in a league schedule of 18 games or more in NCAA history. SFA also finished 18-0 (29-1 overall) in the Lone Star Conference in 1969-70 and 10-0 (22-8 overall) in the Gulf Star Conference in 1886-87.
• ROAD WARRIORS: With the win at Southeastern Louisiana, SFA closed its Southland Conference road slate undefeated at 9-0, the first time the `Jacks have done so in the Division I era. The last conference team that was truly recognized for going undefeated on the road was Arkansas State in 1966-67 when it was 8-0 SLC and 4-0 on road. In 1972-73, Louisiana-Lafayette finished 6-0 (12-0 SLC), but all wins were later forfeited due to NCAA sanctions. Louisiana Tech is listed as 8-0 in league play in 1971-72, but it technically was 6-2 in conference and 3-1 on the road. It was later awarded two league wins (one road win) when ULL forfeited all eight-league games that season.
QUICK HITS
• The ‘Jacks opened 2014-15 1-3, dropping three straight, SFA’s worst start since 1998-99 season (started 0-4).
• SFA’s three-game losing streak earlier this season was its since 2011-12 season, when the ‘Jacks dropped three consecutive in non-conference play (Prairie View A&M, 53-50; North Carolina Central, 65-57; Oregon, 55-45).
• SFA, 2-3 through its first five games, also started last season 2-3, eventually finishing 32-3.
• SFA is undefeated in the months of December, January and February under head coach Brad Underwood.
• SFA’s current 11-game overall win streak is third in the country. Kentucky and Virginia are both 15-0.
• At the Division I level, senior forward Jacob Parker ranks third all-time at SFA with 111 starts. The native of Bixby, Okla., needs one more to tie former teammate Desmond Haymon (2010-14) for second all-time. Josh Alexander (2005-09) holds the Div. I mark with 116 starts.
• Junior Thomas Walkup and senior Jacob Parker both recorded double-doubles in SFA 81-66 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The double-double was Parker’s first, Walkup’s second and team’s third of the season.
• Junior Thomas Walkup recorded his fifth double-double of his career in SFA’s season-opening 75-49 win over Mississippi College.
• SFA had its 12-game true road win streak end in a 81-63 loss at Xavier on Friday, Nov. 21.
• SFA had its 34-game home win streak ended in a 79-77 overtime loss to Northern Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
• In 2013-14, SFA closed the regular season 15-0 inside William R. Johnson Coliseum for a second straight year.
• SFA led the country with 14 true road wins in 2013-14, posting a 14-2 (.875) mark.
• SFA is coming off a record-setting 32-3 campaign in 2013-14. The ‘Jacks won the Southland Conference’s regular season and tournament titles, and picked up the program’s first-ever win the NCAA Tournament, upsetting fifth-seeded VCU 77-75 in overtime.
• The 2013-14 Southland Conference regular season title marks the second time the ‘Jacks have won back-to-back titles. SFA won the SLC in 2007-08 and 2008-09. The year after won their first consecutive titles, the ‘Jacks were eliminated in the championship game of the league’s tournament.
• The ‘Jacks are 2-5 all-time in postseason tournaments. SFA is 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament and 1-3 in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
• Brad Underwood became the 11th head coach in SFA history on April 23, 2013.
Series vs. Central Arkansas: 12-0, 13th meeting
Last Five Meetings (if available):
Season (H/A/N) W/L Score
2013-14 (H) W 85-61
2012-13 (A) W 66-49
2012-13 (H) W 72-36
2012-13 (A) W 77-69
2011-12 (H) W 67-56
Last time vs. UCA - (March 8, 2014 - William R. Johnson Coliseum, Nacogdoches, Texas)
The Stephen F. Austin men’s basketball finished off perfection in Southland Conference play, defeating Central Arkansas 85-61 on Saturday evening in William R. Johnson Coliseum. Thomas Walkup led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds for the ‘Jacks. Desmond Haymon added 20 points and eight rebounds in his final game in the Coliseum. Deshaunt Walker finished with 16 points, while junior Parker posted his ninth double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Series Notes
• Tuesday’s game at Central Arkansas marks the 13th meeting between the two programs.
• SFA has won all 12 of the previous meetings against the Bears, including two under head coach Brad Underwood.
• The ‘Jacks are 6-0 all-time inside Farris Center, defeating UCA 66-49 in Conway, Arkansas, last season.
• SFA beat the Bears 85-61 last season in its regular season finale to finish 18-0 in Southland Conference play.
-SFA-
