SFA Clinches Trip to WAC Vegas with 87-60 Win Over SUU

Thursday, March 7

Nacogdoches, TX

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

16-14,9-10WAC

Southern Utah University

9-21,4-15WAC

Southern Utah

SFA

SFA Clinches Trip to WAC Vegas with 87-60 Win Over SUU

3/7/2024 9:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Jace Green, Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks completed their regular season sweep over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and punched their ticket to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament, with an 87-60 win at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.  SFA improved to 16-14 overall and 9-10 in Western Athletic Conference play.  SUU fell to 9-21 overall and 4-15 in WAC play.

The 'Jacks put up 40 plus points in each half. At half time SFA lead 44-35 and finished with 43 points in the second half totaling 87 points.  Matt Hayman was named the Pilgrim's Player of the Game after scoring 13 second half points.  He finished with 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 shooting from behind the three-point line. It was Hayman's fourth 20-point game this season.

The Lumberjack defense led SFA early on as they held the Thunderbirds to four points through the first 3:30 of the first half.  Stephen F. Austin also shot the ball very efficiently through the first ten minutes of play. The 'Jacks shot 7-for-15 (46.7%) from the field and 3-for-5 (60.0%) from the three-point line.

All five of SFA's starters got on the board in the first half, with Latrell Jossell and Jalil Beaubrun combining for 10 of the Lumberjack's first 19 points.  AJ Cajuste returned from a nine-game absence as he dealt with an injury.  Cajuste retuned to form as SFA's leader in assists as he led the team with four assists in the first half.

Beginning at the 5:32 mark in the first half SFA opened a 14-3 run over SUU to take a 44-31 lead.  Stephen F. Austin entered halftime with a 44-35 lead over Southern Utah.

Jalil Beaubrun finished as SFA's leading scorer in the first half.  He had 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 1-for-1 from behind the three-point line.  Matt Hayman and Latrell Jossell also finished with eight points each.

The Lumberjacks offense shot at a very high percentage in the opening half.  SFA shot 18-for-32 (56.3%) from the field and 4-for-7 (57.1%) from the three-point line.  The 'Jacks also out rebounded the Thunderbirds 20-15 in the first half.  Stephen F. Austin's defense also forced seven turnovers and was led by Latrell Jossell's three steals.

SFA opened the second half on a 7-3 run to take a 51-38 lead.  With 10:50 left in the game the 'Jacks took their first twenty-point lead of the night as they led 62-42.  SFA's defense held the Thunderbirds to only one basket for over three minutes of the second half.

SFA finished the game with three scorers in double digits and was led by Matt Hayman's 21 points.  Latrell Jossell (14) and Jalil Beaubrun (13) also finished with double-digit scoring.  The Lumberjacks shot 33-for-61 (54.1%) from the field and 9-for-20 (45.0%) from behind the three-point line.

AJ Cajuste returned the SFA lineup and recorded a game-high six assists.  The Lumberjacks outrebounded the Thunderbirds 40-31 and held a 20-13 margin in the assist column.  Stephen F. Austin forced 15 turnovers on nine steals and was led by Latrell Jossell's four steals.

The Lumberjacks conclude the regular season as they host the Utah Tech Trailblazers this Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. CT.  The matchup will be a special Senior Day edition of Cram The Coliseum in which AJ Cajuste, Frank Staine, and Head Manager Reese Turner will be honored.
Seeding for the WAC tournament will be announced Sunday.