Hayman’s Buzzer Beater Helps Lumberjacks Stun Privateers in Overtime

Monday, February 3

New Orleans, LA

6:30 PM

Stephen F. Austin

10-13,3-9Southland

New Orleans

4-19,2-10Southland

OT 1

SFA

New Orleans

Hayman’s Buzzer Beater Helps Lumberjacks Stun Privateers in Overtime

2/3/2025 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NEW ORLEANS, La.- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (10-13, 3-9) capped off a stunning second half rally in overtime as Matt Hayman banked home a seemingly impossible buzzer beater three-pointer for SFA to give the Lumberjacks an improbable 88-85 overtime win over the hosting New Orleans University Privateers (4-18, 3-8).

The Privateers struck early on their opening possession to take an early 2-0 lead, however, Keon Thompson fresh off an 18-point performance responded 45 seconds later for SFA with their first points of the night with a jumper to tie the score at two apiece. Following a pair of New Orleans baskets, Keith Lamar would hit the 'Jacks first triple of the night to make the score 6-5.

The two schools would continue to exchange baskets over the first five minutes, with Lamar knocking down his second triple of the half with 15 minutes left to tie the score at 12 points apiece. The next five minutes would continue to offer a heated back-and-forth scoring affair as the Privateers held a 22-18 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Matt Hayman would continue the hot half of three-point shooting for SFA with a pair of triples of his own over the next five minutes to keep SFA to within two of New Orleans at 27-25 with five minutes left in the opening half. The final five minute of the half offered a much different pace-of-play as the two schools combined for just 10 points with the Privateers holding a 35-29 lead as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.

The Privateers opened up the second half with the opening points, however, Matt Hayman would respond with a jumper on the next SFA possession to keep the score 37-31 in favor of New Orleans. With the Privateers leading 37-31, a 7-2 scoring run orchestrated by baskets from Keith Lamar, Keon Thompson, and capped off with Matt Hayman's third triple of the night brought SFA to within two at 40-38.

The back-and-forth scoring continued over the first five minutes of the second half as Matt Hayman would stay scorching hot from beyond the arc with his fourth triple of the night to help SFA rally and tie the score at 43 points apiece with five minutes gone in the half.

A 9-0 scoring run by New Orleans put them ahead 56-45, however, SFA would not back down quietly as a 5-0 scoring run thanks to three points from Nana Antwi-Boasiako and a basket from Keon Thompson trimmed the Privateers lead down to 56-50 with 10 minutes left in the game. Antwi-Boasiako would splash the seventh Lumberjack triple of the night with eight minutes left to cut the Privateers lead back down to single digits at 61-53.

A New Orleans layup would put them back ahead by 11, however, much like the Lamar game the Lumberjacks continued to show signs of life late as Dominic Pangonis helped spark a 7-0 SFA scoring run with a pair of baskets and Thierno Sylla capping off the run with SFA's eight three-pointer of the night to close the New Orleans gap down to four points at 72-68 with one minute left in the game. SFA continued to show no signs of quit as a second Thierno Sylla triple with 10 seconds left trimmed the Privateers lead down to a single point at 72-71. A pair of Privateers free-throws put them back ahead 74-71 late.

However, the Lumberjacks late surge continued as following a 1-and-1 for Keon Thompson where he drained the first free-throw and intentionally missed the second, grabbed his own rebound, and found Chrishawn Christmas in the lane, who was fouled allowing him to convert on a pair of free-throws thanks to a lane violation called on New Orleans tied the game at 74 and helped force extra time at Lakefront Arena, as SFA embarked on a 13-2 run over the final 2:09 to help force overtime.

Keon Thompson got the overtime scoring started with a jumper to put SFA ahead 76-74, giving the 'Jacks their first lead of the night. After a free-throw from New Orleans, Thierno Sylla would find a wide-open Dominic Pangonis for SFA's 10th triple of the night to extend the lead to 79-75. New Orleans responded quickly with a layup; however, Keon Thompson had the immediate answer for SFA with a reverse layup on the ensuing possession to keep SFA ahead by four at 81-77. New Orleans would get a basket to get back within two, however, Keon Thompson would once again respond for SFA with a pair of free-throws to keep it 83-79 in favor of SFA. A three-point play for the Privateers brought New Orleans to within one at 83-82. Matt Hayman would convert a tough layup with 13 seconds left, however, a deep three for the Privateers tied the game at 85 with two seconds left with a second overtime seeming almost certain. Matt Hayman, however, had other plans for this game as he would make the shot of the year in the Southland as he launched a three-pointer from well beyond half court at the buzzer and banked home the shot to stun the Privateers and their home crowd and grant SFA an improbable 88-85 overtime win over New Orleans.

Top Players of the Game:

Keon Thompson: 23 points (led team, new career-high), five rebounds, five assists (led team), one steal
Matt Hayman: 19 points, five three-point field goals (tied career-high), five rebounds, two assists, two steals
Chrishawn Christmas: 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals
Keith Lamar: 10 points, two three-point field goals, five rebounds, three assists
Nana Antwi-Boasiako: 10 points, two rebounds, one steal

The Lumberjacks will be carrying plenty of energy and confidence back home as they open up a two-game homestand next weekend on Saturday, February 8th when they host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at the Sawmill. Tip-off for Saturday's home clash against the Islanders is set for 5:00 p.m. CST at the Sawmill.

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