Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Lumberjacks Rout Cardinals, 103-74
2/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score • 
Photo Gallery
Stephen F. Austin 103, Lamar 74
William R. Johnson Coliseum • Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (23-4, 13-1 SLC); Lamar (14-13, 8-7 SLC)
Up Next: at Houston Baptist • Saturday, Feb. 28th • 7 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Thomas Walkup became the newest member of the Stephen F. Austin 1,000-point club and Jared Johnson recorded a career-high 21 points as SFA routed Lamar 103-74 at William R. Johnson Coliseum Monday evening. The win improves the Lumberjacks to 23-4 on the year and 13-1 in Southland Conference play, settling back into first place in the SLC standings.
Walkup recorded the first eight points for the `Jacks on the night, converting an and-one to become the second SFA player this season to join the elite club, joining teammate Jacob Parker. On the night, Walkup just missed a double-double, finishing with 18 points and nine assists to complement three rebounds and three steals, hitting six of his eight shots from the floor.
"I can't stress enough what an incredible team player Thomas Walkup is," said head coach Brad Underwood. "Any time someone reaches 1,000 points, its something special. But when you have a player like Thomas that will fill up the box score and do anything you need him to do, it helps to make it an even more special night."
Johnson's 21 points came on 8-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, helping spark a Lumberjack offensive attack that hit 11 of its first 17 three-point attempts, finishing the game 12-of-23 (52.2%).
Parker finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, just missing a double-double himself, with Dallas Cameron finishing with 11 points and Ty Charles adding 10. On the night, SFA shot 62.1 percent from the floor, hitting 41 of its 66 shots, including a blistering 64.5 percent in the second half (20-of-31). The `Jacks were also perfect from the free throw line, hitting all nine attempts.
In a game that was never really in doubt from the opening whistle, SFA raced out to an early 10 point lead at 19-9 and never looked back. The `Jacks led by 22 at halftime, outscoring Lamar 54-32, then led by as many as 40 with just under five minutes remaining before a slight Cardinal run trimmed the final deficit to 29 points.
The win marked the second time this season SFA has reached triple figures, scoring a season-high 109 points in the win at Central Arkansas. The Lumberjacks also played unselfish basketball, accounting for 27 team assists on their 41 baskets on the night.
SFA sweeps the season series against Lamar and reclaims a share of the top spot in the Southland Conference standings with Sam Houston State as both teams sit at 13-1 in SLC play. If the season were to end today, SFA would hold the tiebreaker over the Bearkats thanks to their head-to-head victory in Huntsville last month.
SFA now prepares for the challenging final stretch of the 2014-15 regular season as the `Jacks will play four games in eight days. The first of those challenges come this Saturday when SFA heads to Houston for a showdown with Houston Baptist. Opening tip against the Huskies is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Sharp Gym.
-SFA-
