Friday, March 3
Orem, Utah
7:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
at
Utah Valley
Men's Basketball Takes on Their Final Game of the Regular Season Against Top WAC Team
3/2/2023 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin at Utah Valley
Date: Friday, March 3rd
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Location: Orem, Utah
Stadium: UCCU Center
Series: 2nd Meeting (SFA leads 1-0)
OREM, Utah - The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team will take on the Utah Valley Wolverines for the Lumberjacks' final game of the regular season before heading to the conference tournament in Las Vegas.
A Look at the Lumberjacks
SFA is currently tied for the third seed in the WAC with Southern Utah. They both have a 11-6 conference record and a 19-11 overall record. Southern Utah holds the tiebreaker after beating SFA in the head-to-head matchup earlier in the year. A win tomorrow and a Southern Utah loss would give the 'Jacks the third seed in the conference tournament.
The Lumberjacks are already fighting an uphill battle after losing Sadaidriene Hall or Nana Antwi-Boasiako due to injury. Coach Keller and the 'Jacks will look to the strength of their bench to make up for the loss of two of their heavyweights.
Coming into the final match of the regular season, the Lumberjacks are ranked first in the conference in field goal percentage, three-point percentage (12th in the nation), turnovers forced per game (3rd in the nation).
Nigel Hawkins has been on a tear in this last stretch of the season, scoring nine or more points in the last seven games, and scoring 20+ in three of those matches including the last two.
A Look at the Wolverines
At the top of the WAC standings sit the Utah Valley Wolverines with a 14-3 conference record and a 23-7 overall record. The Lumberjacks will have their work cut out for them as the Wolverines have won seven out of their last eight, and are 12-1 on their home court. A win against SFA would secure Utah Valley the number one seed in the conference tournament.
With 15 players who are 6'0 or taller, it should come as no surprise that Utah Valley is number one in the country when it comes to blocks per game with 6.5. 7'0 Sophomore, Aziz Bandaogo, leads the team with 84 blocks on the season, which puts him third best in the country. The height strength for the Wolverines also puts them second best in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (29.73), Bandaogo being seventh in the nation individually.
Along with blocks per game and defensive rebounds per game, the Wolverines rank first in the conference in fastbreak points, field goal percentage defense (5th in the nation), free-throw percentage, and rebounds per game (7th in the nation).
The Wolverines have solidified a powerful starting five this year, with four out of five averaging more than 11 points a game. Le'Tre Darthard leads the scoring category with 14.4 points per game. Darthard also leads the team in three-point percentage with 37.0% (60-for-162) and free-throw percentage with an impressive 90.7% (107-for-118). Justin Harmon has taken the most shots on the field with 335 and leads the team with 40 steals. Trey Woodbury is a threat from both inside the paint and beyond the arc and leads the team with 126 assists. Although Bandaogo averages 11.1 points per game, he will be a big difference maker in the game, as he has picked up 15 double-doubles on the year.
Date: Friday, March 3rd
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Location: Orem, Utah
Stadium: UCCU Center
Series: 2nd Meeting (SFA leads 1-0)
OREM, Utah - The Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team will take on the Utah Valley Wolverines for the Lumberjacks' final game of the regular season before heading to the conference tournament in Las Vegas.
A Look at the Lumberjacks
SFA is currently tied for the third seed in the WAC with Southern Utah. They both have a 11-6 conference record and a 19-11 overall record. Southern Utah holds the tiebreaker after beating SFA in the head-to-head matchup earlier in the year. A win tomorrow and a Southern Utah loss would give the 'Jacks the third seed in the conference tournament.
The Lumberjacks are already fighting an uphill battle after losing Sadaidriene Hall or Nana Antwi-Boasiako due to injury. Coach Keller and the 'Jacks will look to the strength of their bench to make up for the loss of two of their heavyweights.
Coming into the final match of the regular season, the Lumberjacks are ranked first in the conference in field goal percentage, three-point percentage (12th in the nation), turnovers forced per game (3rd in the nation).
Nigel Hawkins has been on a tear in this last stretch of the season, scoring nine or more points in the last seven games, and scoring 20+ in three of those matches including the last two.
A Look at the Wolverines
At the top of the WAC standings sit the Utah Valley Wolverines with a 14-3 conference record and a 23-7 overall record. The Lumberjacks will have their work cut out for them as the Wolverines have won seven out of their last eight, and are 12-1 on their home court. A win against SFA would secure Utah Valley the number one seed in the conference tournament.
With 15 players who are 6'0 or taller, it should come as no surprise that Utah Valley is number one in the country when it comes to blocks per game with 6.5. 7'0 Sophomore, Aziz Bandaogo, leads the team with 84 blocks on the season, which puts him third best in the country. The height strength for the Wolverines also puts them second best in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (29.73), Bandaogo being seventh in the nation individually.
Along with blocks per game and defensive rebounds per game, the Wolverines rank first in the conference in fastbreak points, field goal percentage defense (5th in the nation), free-throw percentage, and rebounds per game (7th in the nation).
The Wolverines have solidified a powerful starting five this year, with four out of five averaging more than 11 points a game. Le'Tre Darthard leads the scoring category with 14.4 points per game. Darthard also leads the team in three-point percentage with 37.0% (60-for-162) and free-throw percentage with an impressive 90.7% (107-for-118). Justin Harmon has taken the most shots on the field with 335 and leads the team with 40 steals. Trey Woodbury is a threat from both inside the paint and beyond the arc and leads the team with 126 assists. Although Bandaogo averages 11.1 points per game, he will be a big difference maker in the game, as he has picked up 15 double-doubles on the year.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball12.29.23 | Men's Basketball x Postgame Presser vs New Orleans
Friday, December 29
11.3.23 | Axe 'Em Insider Episode 18 x Men's Basketball
Friday, November 03
8.3.23 | Axe 'Em Insider Episode 12 x Nathan Bain and Kyle Keller
Thursday, August 03
SFA vs UNO | MBB Highlights: Lumberjack Basketball
Saturday, January 28
