`Jacks To Host Houston Baptist On Saturday
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 22: Stephen F. Austin (18-3, 8-0 SLC) at Houston (10-9, 5-4 SLC)
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 7 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Site: William R. Johnson Coliseum (7,203)
Stream: SFAJacks.com
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Talent: Rob Meyers (PXP)
Live Stats | @SFA_MBB (#AxeEm/#DreamBigger)
SFA Game Notes 
Team Information
Stephen F. Austin
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (Kansas State, 1986)
Career Record: 50-6 (2nd season), Record at SFA: Same
Houston Baptist
Head Coach: Ron Cottrell (Arkansas, 1988)
Career Record: 436-326 (24th season), Record at HBU: 436-326 (Same)
STORY LINES
• The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team will look to extend their 17-game win streak on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting Houston Baptist in a 6 p.m. tip inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The game serve as SFA Alumni Association Member Night where members can redeem their member cards for six complimentary general admission tickets or six half-priced reserved tickets. SFA Athletics will also continue "Show For Dough" for student organizations. The game will air on Q101.7 FM with Rob Meyers on the call.
• The Lumberjacks (18-3, 8-0 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), Southeastern Louisiana (81-66), Central Arkansas (109-58), Abilene Christian (82-64), New Orleans (79-54), Lamar (82-65) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (61-51).
• 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 led the nation entering the third round of the NCAA Tournament, following Wichita State's 78-76 loss to Kentucky the same afternoon.
THE LAST TIME OUT
• Underwood tied for the fifth fastest head coach to reach 50 career wins at the Division I level as the SFA downed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 61-51 inside the Coliseum (See SFA's Last Time Out on Pg. 3 for more).
UP NEXT
• Following the tilt with HBU, the `Jacks will begin a three-game road stretch starting with Northwestern State on Monday, Feb. 9. SFA will also visit TAMUCC (Feb. 14) and Incarnate Word (Feb. 16).
OTHER NOTES:
• SFA vs. HOUSTON BAPTIST: The `Jacks will meet HBU for the 15th time on the hardwood when the two teams face off on Saturday, Feb. 7. SFA leads the all-time series 13-1, having won the last five meetings with the Huskies and all 10 when playing in Nacogdoches.
• SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST: HBU enters Saturday's tip 10-9 overall and 5-4 in Southland Conference play, under 24-year head coach Ron Cottrell. The Huskies are currently fifth in the conference standings. HBU was picked tied for 12th (SID) and 13th (coaches) in the preseason polls.
The Huskies, a game over .500 both on the season and in conference, have wins over McNeese State (68-56), New Orleans (74-73), Central Arkansas (84-61), Lamar (79-77) and Abilene Christian (77-61). HBU has faced most of its struggles on the road, posting a 2-8 record on the season and a 1-3 mark in SLC action. The Huskies use a balanced style of play to win games, currently first in the SLC in rebounding margin (+8.8), second in rebounding offense (39.9), rebounding defense (.31.1) and field goal percentage defense (.417), and third in field goal percentage (.462) and free throw percentage (.727).
• SFA IN THE SLC: The `Jacks currently lead or rank near the top of the Southland in several categories. SFA is first in assists (17.0), steals (8.6), turnover margin (+4.1) and rebounding defense (29.9), second in field goal percentage (.475), scoring margin (+14.2), scoring defense (60.9) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.323), third in 3-point field goal percentage (.369), rebounding margin (+4.5) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2), and fourth in scoring offense (75.1), field goal percentage defense (.438), offensive rebounds (12.7).
• `JACKS IN THE SLC: Several `Jacks ranked among the elite in the conference. Jacob Parker ranks second in 3-point field goal percentage (.449), eighth in field goal percentage (.556), ninth in steals (1.5), 10th in free throw percentage (.818), 13th in scoring (14.0) and 14th in rebounding (5.7). Thomas Walkup sits ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5), 11th in field goal percentage (.544), 12th in rebounding (5.7), 13th in assists (3.1) and 15th in scoring (13.2). Trey Pinkney is second in assist/turnover ratio (2.7), seventh in assists (4.2) and ninth in steals (1.5). Jared Johnson is eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.417), while Demetrious Floyd is 10th (.388). Tanner Clayton ranks ninth in blocks (1.4). Ty Charles is 11th in free throw percentage (.810).
• 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. Since then, the `Jacks have won their first eight games in conference play this season and currently lead the nation with a 30-game conference win streak. SFA, undefeated in SLC play under Underwood, leads Tulsa (17 straight) and Gonzaga (12 straight). The 17-game overall win streak for the `Jacks is tied for second overall with Murray State. Only Kentucky (22-0) has won more, still undefeated on the season.
• SFA's LAST TIME OUT: Underwood joins James A. "Buck" Freeman (St. Johns, 1930) and Brad Stevens (Butler, 2009) with 50 wins in their first 56 games as a head coach.
Senior Jacob Parker and freshman Ty Charles paced SFA with 12 points apiece, each recording 10 in the second half. Parker finished 5-of-9 from the floor with a made 3-pointer and one free throw, while Charles netted 4-of-7 with two made shots from deep and at the charity stripe. Sophomore Dallas Cameron and junior Clide Geffrard finished with seven and eight points for the `Jacks, respectfully. Junior Trey Pinkney highlighted the backcourt with six points, six assists and a career-high four steals.
Specialty Stats:
Pts In Paint - SFA 26-22 Pts Off Turnovers - SFA 27-10 2nd Chance Pts - TAMUCC 14-13
Fast Break Pts - SFA 8-4 Bench Pts - SFA 20-13
• FROM DOWNTOWN: Over 28.9% of SFA's made field goals this season have come from beyond the arc. The `Jacks have made 157-of-426 (.369) attempts from 3-point land, while shooting 542-of-1,142 (.475) from the floor. SFA's 3-point shooting is almost double their opponent in converted attempts. When facing the `Jacks, the opponent is 85-of-263 (.323) from deep.
• LAST LOSS: When the `Jacks takes the floor to face HBU, it will have been 75 days since their last overall loss. In conference play, SFA has not lost since the 2012-13 season. The `Jacks last fell 54-50 at Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 16, 2013 - 721 days.
• COMFORT IN HALFTIME LEAD: When leading at halftime, the `Jacks are 42-1 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 39 consecutive games under Underwood when on top after the first 20 minutes.
• TAKING NOTICE: SFA checks in at No. 4 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for a third straight week. The `Jacks are also sixth in SB Nation's Mid-Major Madness Power 15 Poll after previously sitting eighth. SFA is currently 15th in the latest NCAA power rankings and 37th in the Kenpom. The `Jacks are also receiving seven votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and five in the AP Top 25.
• PARKER's ALL-TIME WINS: Senior forward Jacob Parker recorded the 97th win of his Lumberjack career in SFA's 61-51 victory over TAMUCC. The native of Bixby, Okla., is one win away from breaking his tie with 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 50th win of their Lumberjack careers in SFA's 61-51 victory over TAMUCC. The two are 10 wins away from tying former teammates Nikola Gajic and Deshaunt Walker as the program's all-time winningest two-year players. 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 24-1 in the coliseum.
• 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).
• 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 7-of-7, while the `Jacks are 336-of-475 (.707) on the year.
• #VOTESFA: Head coach Brad Underwood is participating in the Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge. Originally, one of 48 top college basketball coaches in the nation participating in the fan-vote challenge, Underwood has advanced to the second round as he tries to help win $100,000 for the Nacogdoches Area United Way. Fans can register and vote online daily at http://www.espn.com/infiniti.
• 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 (8 gms) - Trey Pinkney, Jared Johnson, Ty Charles, Thomas Walkup and Jacob Parker
• 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.
• 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 first since 2011-12 season, when the `Jacks dropped three consecutive in non-conference play (Prairie View A&M, 53-50; NC Central, 65-57; Oregon, 55-45).
• SFA, 2-3 through its first five games this season, also started 2-3 in 2013-14, eventually finishing 32-3.
• SFA is undefeated in the months of December, January and February under head coach Brad Underwood.
• SFA's current 17-game overall win streak is tied with Murray State for second in the country.
• SFA's current 30-game conference win streak leads the country.
• Underwood is tied for the first fastest head coach to reach 50 wins, posting a 50-6 record through 56 games in his head coaching career (See Fastest To 50 Wins on Pg. 6 for more).
• At the Div. I level, Jacob Parker is first all-time with 117 starts at SFA, passing Josh Alexander (116-2005-09).
• With 12 points at Abilene Christian, Parker became SFA's latest member of the 1,000-point club.
• Thomas Walkup and Parker both recorded double-doubles in SFA's 81-66 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The double-double was Parker's first, Walkup's second and team's third of the season. Parker added his second, team's fourth, of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds at Lamar on Monday.
• Walkup recorded his fifth double-double of his career in SFA's season-opening 75-49 win over Mississippi College.
• SFA had a 12-game true road win streak end in a 81-63 loss at Xavier on Friday, Nov. 21.
• SFA had a 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.
• In 2013-14, SFA led the country with 14 true road wins, 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. Houston Baptist: 13-1, 15th meeting
Last Five Meetings (if available):
Season (H/A/N) W/L Score
2013-14 (A) W 77-50
2005-06 (H) W 91-66
2004-05 (H) W 87-47
2003-04 (H) W 98-83
1996-97 (H) W 94-67
Last time vs. HBU - (Jan. 9, 2014 - Sharp Gym, Houston, Texas)
SFA opened on a 30-6 run and never looked back, getting a then career-high 27 points from Thomas Walkup, to pick up their 11th-straight victory in a 77-50 win over Houston Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 9, inside Sharp Gym. The 'Jacks limited HBU to just two made field goals and two made free throws across the first 12 minutes to jump out to a 24-point advantage. The lead then built to as high as 42 (75-33) before SFA eventually claimed its sixth-straight road win and first in Southland Conference play on the season.
Series Notes
• Saturday's game against Houston Baptist marks the 15th meeting between the two programs.
• SFA leads the all-time series 13-1, picking up a 77-50 win in Houston last season.
• The `Jacks are 10-0 all-time when hosting HBU.
• SFA has won its last five overall meetings with the Huskies. The lone loss to HBU came in a 70-67 decision inside Sharp Gym on Dec. 12, 1979.
• The `Jacks are 1-0 against the Huskies since HBU joined the Southland Conference last season.
-SFA-
