SFA Opens Defense Of SLC Crown At McNeese St.
1/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 14: Stephen F. Austin (10-3) at McNeese State (6-5)
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 3 • 3 p.m. CT
Site: Burton Coliseum (3,800)
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Stream: McNeeseSports.com ($)
Talent: Rob Meyers (PXP), Kyle Rogers (Color)
Live Stats | @SFA_MBB (#AxeEm/#DreamBigger)
Team Information
Stephen F. Austin
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (Kansas State, 1986)
Career Record: 42-6 (2nd season), Record at SFA: Same
SFA Game Notes 
McNeese State
Head Coach: Dave Simmons (Louisiana Tech, 1981)
Career Record: 118-141 (9th season), Record at McN: Same
STORY LINES
• The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team will look to extend their nine-game win streak on Saturday, Jan. 3, at McNeese State in a 3 p.m. (CT) tip inside Burton Coliseum. The game, marking the first of the 2015 calendar year, represents the Southland Conference opener for both teams and will be broadcast on Q107.7 FM with Rob Meyers on the call.
• The Lumberjacks (10-3) 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.
• 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
• Freshman Ty Charles scored a season-best 17 points and SFA surged in the second half to win a 61-57 thriller inside The Matadome. The `Jacks outscored Cal State Northridge 36-23 in the second half to win their ninth straight game and close non-conference play and 2014 (See SFA's Last Time Out on Pg. 3 for more).
UP NEXT
• Following the tilt at McNeese, the `Jacks will return to William R. Johnson Coliseum and host Southeastern Louisiana. SFA will then shift focus to visits at Central Arkansas (Jan. 13) and Abilene Christian (Jan. 17).
OTHER NOTES
• SFA vs. McNEESE STATE: The `Jacks will meet McNeese State for the 80th time on the hardwood when the two teams face off on Saturday, Jan. 3, inside Burton Coliseum. SFA, winner of its last three meetings and six of its last seven against the Cowboys leads the all-time series 42-37. The `Jacks are 1-1 when playing McN in a conference opener. SFA defeated the Pokes 73-71 in overtime in the 1987-88 season, the first year as a member of the Southland Conference for the `Jacks, before dropping a 58-57 decision in 1988-89.
• SCOUTING McNEESE STATE: McNeese State enters Saturday's tip 6-5 on the season under ninth-year head coach Dave Simmons. The Cowboys, coming off an 11-20 year last season, were picked to finish fifth in both the Southland Conference preseason polls conducted by head coaches and sports information directors.
Fresh off a 66-47 victory at Mississippi State, McN has won two of its last four and four of its last seven games. The Cowboys have also defeated Louisiana College (90-63), Jarvis Christian (85-70), Southern University at New Orleans (74-63), Louisiana-Lafayette (80-70) and LSU-Alexandria (84-68) in non-conference play.
The Pokes, currently 5-2 at home, are led offensively by senior Desharick Guidry. The 6-5 forward averages 17.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, which leads the league. Guidry is one of three McN players averaging double figures, joined by fellow seniors Kevin Hardy (10.8 ppg) and Keelan Garrett (10.0 ppg).
A force on the defensive end, the Pokes are tied with Houston Baptist for the SLC lead in blocked shots per game at 5.8. McN also leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). Junior Austin Lewis ranks second in the SLC with 31 denials. Hardy leads the SLC with 3.0 steals per game.
• KEEPING THE TITLE & STREAK: SFA enters the Southland Conference race as the two-time reigning conference champion and winner of its last 22 in league play. The 22 straight for the `Jacks come after a perfect 18-0 run last season (See Perfect In Conference on Pg. 4 for more).
• SFA's LAST TIME OUT: 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.
Specialty Stats:
Pts In Paint - CSUN 24-18 Pts Off Turnovers - SFA 23-16 2nd Chance Pts - SFA 16-11
Fast Break Pts - SFA 11-7 Bench Pts - SFA 28-3
• FROM DOWNTOWN: Over 31.8% of SFA's made field goals this season have come from beyond the arc. The `Jacks have made 99-of-284 (.349) attempts from 3-point land, while shooting 311-of-704 (.442) from the floor. SFA's 3-point shooting is over double their opponent in converted attempts. When facing the `Jacks, the opponent is 45-of-154 (.292) from deep.
• COMFORT IN HALFTIME LEAD: When leading at halftime, the `Jacks are 35-1 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 33 consecutive games under Underwood when on top after the first 20 minutes.
• MID-MAJOR TOP 25: SFA currently checks in at No. 6 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The `Jacks were previously seventh in the poll last week. SFA is also receiving votes in SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness Power 15 Poll.
• 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 203-of-280 (.725) on the year.
• PARKER's ALL-TIME WINS: Senior forward Jacob Parker recorded the 89th win of his Lumberjack career in SFA's 61-57 victory at Cal State Northridge. The native of Bixby, Okla., is eight 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 42nd win of their Lumberjack careers in SFA's 61-57 victory at Cal State Northridge. The two are 18 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 21-1 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 guys 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
• 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 the 2014-15 season 1-3, SFA's worst start since the 1998-99 season when the team opened up 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.
• At the Division I level, senior forward Jacob Parker ranks 10th all-time at SFA with 109 starts. The native of Bixby, Okla., needs three 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.
• SFA's 12-game true road win streak ended in a 81-63 loss at Xavier on Friday, Nov. 21.
• SFA's 34-game win streak ended in a 79-77 overtime loss to Northern Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
• Junior guard/forward Thomas Walkup recorded his fifth double-double of his career in SFA's season-opening 75-49 win over Mississippi College. The double-double is the only one recorded for the `Jacks this season.
• 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. McNeese State: 42-37, 80th meeting
Last Five Meetings (if available):
Season (H/A/N) W/L Score
2013-14 (H) W 74-54
2012-13 (A) W 59-39
2012-13 (H) W 71-43
2011-12 (A) L 66-56
2010-11 (H) W 65-50
Last time vs. McN - (Feb. 8, 2014 - William R. Johnson Coliseum, Nacogdoches, Texas)
SFA never trailed and cruised to its 30th-straight home court win to reclaim sole possession of the NCAA's longest active home win streak in a 74-54 thumping of McNeese State on Saturday evening inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The `Jacks placed four of their five starters in double figures, as Desmond Haymon recorded a game-high 19 points. Trey Pinkney recorded eight assists.
Series Notes
• Saturday's game against McNeese State marks the 80th meeting between the two programs and first in Lake Charles, Louisiana, since the 2012-13 season.
• The `Jacks have won their last three meetings and six of their last seven against the Cowboys.
• Saturday marks the third time that SFA and McN will play in their conference opener and first since the since the 1988-89 season (L, 58-57). The `Jacks beat the Pokes 73-71 in overtime to open SLC play in 1987-88.
-SFA-
