Lumberjacks Defeat Penguins in Axe’Em Classic Finale

Saturday, November 23

Nacogdoches, TX

6:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

4-3,0-0Southland

Youngstown State University

2-4,0-0Horizon

Youngstown St.

SFA

Lumberjacks Defeat Penguins in Axe’Em Classic Finale

11/23/2024 11:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Jackson Pickard, Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (4-3, 0-0) defeated the Youngstown State Penguins (2-4, 0-0) by a final score of 64-57 in the final game of the Axe'Em Classic presented by Etech. The Lumberjacks went 2-1in the Classic.

SFA would score first as Matt Hayman would drain a midrange jumper to take a 2-0 lead. Both teams would trade baskets as they started to get hot. Matt Hayman would drain his first three of the game at the 16:46 mark in the first half to shrink the Penguins lead to 1, 8-7. The teams would continue to exchange blows, but Youngstown would find some breathing room going on a 7-1 run to take a 24-13 lead.

SFA would not let the lead last for long pulling within one after going on a 7-0 run of their own to end the first half and take a 30-24 lead into halftime.

Nana Antwi-Boasiako would lead the Lumberjacks at halftime with eight points, going 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-3 from the field.

The Penguins would come out hot after half time pulling within two points, 30-28. The Lumberjacks would go on yet another run for 8-3 to take a nine-point lead with 14:41 to go in the second half, 40-31.

Youngstown State would not go away quietly going on a 7-0 run to pull back within two and put the pressure on the Lumberjacks, 40-38. Both sides would find their offensive rhythm trading baskets but at the under four-minute time out in the second half, SFA would hold a 54-48 lead.

The Lumberjacks continued to find success from beyond the arc as Chrishawn Christmas would drain a three as the shot clock expired to take a 57-48 lead. The Penguins would enter desperation mode with 1:02 left in the game as they began to foul and send the 'Jacks to the line. Myles Jenkins would cash in two free throws to take a nine-point lead with 1:04 to go in the second half.

The Penguins would try to claw back into the game in the last seconds of the game, but the Lumberjacks late free throw shooting and lead was too great, and the Jacks' would win the game. 64-57.

SFA shot 21-for-44 (47.7%) from the field and 14-for-18 (77.8%) from the free throw line. The Lumberjacks outrebounded the Penguins 41 to 26.

The Lumberjacks had four players finish in double digits points as they sealed the victory over the Penguins going 2-1 overall on the weekend. Nana would be named to the Axe'Em Classic All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the game.

Top Performers:
Matt Hayman: 13 points, seven rebounds, and 5 assists
Nana Antwi-Boasiako: 14 points and six rebounds
Chrishawn Christmas: 12 points and a game-high 8 rebounds
Myles Jenkins: 11 points

The Axe'Em classic all tournament team was also announced with the Lumberjacks own Nana Antwi-Boasiako making the team.

All Tournament

Kobe Stewart - MVP - Presbyterian

Abdi Bashir - Monmouth

Nana Antwi-Bosiako – SFA

Jonah Pierce – Presbyterian

Nico Galette - Youngstown

The Lumberjacks will be back in action Friday, November 29th, as the travel to Monroe, Louisiana to take on the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks. Tip-off is set for 6:30 P.M. CT.

TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Basketball at William R. Johnson Coliseum this season. Season and single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.

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