Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
SFA Mauls Bearkats For First Place, 79-68
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team used a hot start and well-balanced attack to take over first place in the Southland Conference with a 79-68 victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday evening inside Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
With the win, the Lumberjacks (16-3, 6-0 SLC) knocked off SHSU (14-5, 6-1 SLC) in the battle of unbeatens to pick up their nation-leading 28th straight conference victory. The victory also marks the team's 15th consecutive overall victory on the season, which sits third in the country.
Junior Thomas Walkup netted a strong closing few minutes, to lead SFA with 17 points. The native of Pasadena, Texas, finished 6-of-7 from the floor with a 3-pointer and perfect 4-of-4 showing from the free throw line, one of four `Jacks to finish in double figures.
Freshman Ty Charles finished one point off the pace of Walkup, netting 16 points, his most in conference play, on 5-of-12 shooting from the floor and a team-best six rebounds. Junior Clide Geffrard followed Charles with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with a 3-pointer and two free throws, while senior Jacob Parker rounded out the double figure scoring for SFA with 13 points.
The `Jacks shot 54.2 percent (26-48) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-13) from deep and 61.1 percent (22-36) from the charity stripe. SFA outscored the Bearkats 36-25 in the paint, 15-13 off turnovers, 25-18 off the bench and 8-5 in the fast break.
The `Jacks set the tone early, opening on a 12-1 run and held SHSU without a made basket from the field for 9:24 to lead the Kats 25-7. Despite a run by SHSU, the difference in score only dipped below double-figures for 30 seconds in taking a 39-29 lead into the lockerroom.
SFA used another quick start at the top of the second half to rebuild a 20-point advantage at 57-37 with 14:09 remaining. Following a made free throw by the Kats' Jabari Peters, who finished with 12 points, Parker knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession to push the lead to a game-high 22 points.
Free throws, coming off a combined 55 fouls called, slowed the pace in the second half and allowed SHSU to narrow the score. However, SFA's hot starts in both halves aided the 'Jacks in outlasting pushes by the Kats in arriving at the 79-68 final to hand SHSU its first loss in both conference play and at home.
SFA will look to continue its winning ways and wrap up a two-game road swing with a visit to Lamar on Monday, Jan. 26. Tip is schedule for 7 p.m. in the Montagne Center.
-SFA-
