Stephen F. Austin
Abilene Christian
Walkup's Career-High Fuels SFA Past ACU 82-64
1/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ABILENE, Texas - Junior Thomas Walkup established a new career-high with 30 points to fuel the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team to an 82-64 win over Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon inside Moody Coliseum.
Walkup hit over 80 percent of his shots, finishing 14-of-17 from the floor with two 3-pointers across 31 minutes played. The native of Pasadena, Texas, became the first player to net 30 points or more in a game for SFA (14-3, 4-0 SLC) since Desmond Haymon did so last season at Lamar (36 points - 2/13/14).
Junior Clide Geffrard also recorded a strong performance against ACU (9-8, 3-1 SLC), knocking down 7-of-9 shots in the second half to tie his career-high with 14 points.
Senior Jacob Parker finished with 12 points to become the latest member of the 1,000-point club (1,009) and round out the double figure scoring for the Lumberjacks. Parker finished 4-of-5 from the floor with two made shots from deep and at the line, becoming the first SFA player since Haymon to surpass the career milestone.
The `Jacks shot 59.3 percent (35-59) from the field on the game and made 6-of-15 (.400) from deep and 6-of-12 (.500) from the charity stripe against the Wildcats. SFA's size, in comparison, allowed the `Jacks to outscore the Wildcats 46-24 in the paint. SFA was also able to turn 12 offensive rebounds into 20 points and, despite committing three more turnovers than ACU, held a 19-16 points advantage miscues.
Both teams played close in the early going, trading one-possession leads eight times across the first 5:39. After a made layup by senior Connor Brooks gave the `Jacks a 13-12 edge, buckets from junior Demetrious Floyd and Parker pushed SFA's advantage to a six points (18-12) at the 11:38 mark.
The Wildcats remained in contention for the next 6:12 until making a push. Down 29-21, ACU went on an 11-0 run over the next 3:54 to take a 32-29 edge, and closed on a 5-4 run, including a buzzer-beater from K.J. Maura, to take a 37-33 lead into the lockerroom.
Following an opening 3-pointer from Wildcat Parker Wentz 16 seconds into the second half, the `Jacks followed with an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 41-40. Both teams traded the lead four times over the next 51 seconds until a Walkup jumper put SFA up 46-45.
Up 48-47 with 16:32 left, the `Jacks went on a 14-3 run over the next 5:16 to hold a 12-point advantage (62-50). SFA led by as much as 21 points down the stretch in arriving at the 82-64 final.
The `Jacks will be back in action on Monday, Jan. 19, hosting New Orleans in a 7 p.m. tip.
-SFA-
