Photo by: Jordan Segelken
Jacks Break Into CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25; Debut at No. 23 nationally
1/13/2026 12:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - After receiving votes for seven weeks to start the 2025-26 season, Stephen F. Austin men's basketball has broken into the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll debuting at No. 23 nationally under first-year head coach Matt Braeuer. The Lumberjacks totaled 74 points to move into the ranked portion of the poll and are joined by two other programs in the Top 25 for the first time this season: No. 22 Charleston and No. 25 Middle Tennessee.
The Jacks' lone ranked opponent in the poll is fellow Southland Conference foe McNeese at No. 18. The Cowboys rallied to beat the Lumberjacks 66-64 to hand SFA its first league loss, while keeping a lengthy home winning streak intact. SFA suffered a road loss to UTA which received two votes in the latest poll, and owns a convincing 25-point win over Arkansas State, ranked No. 32 in the extended version of the poll following 15 received votes.
As of games played through January 12, the Jacks rank 107th in the KenPom.com ratings and are inside the Division I Top 100 in NCAA NET rankings at No. 96. Both of those inclusions are currently the second-highest nods for a Southland program as the Jacks trail McNeese (No. 68 KP, No. 48 NET) who moved up two spots from the January 5 release. Of the advanced metrics, the Jacks hold a No. 62 rating in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Southland Conference regular season is heating up as the calendar moves to mid-January with three teams, including the Lumberjacks, tied atop the standings. The Jacks are joined by McNeese (14-3, 7-1 SLC) and Nicholls (8-9, 7-1 SLC), while four other teams have at least four league wins with A&M-Corpus Christi at 5-3.
Stephen F. Austin prepares for three games away from William R. Johnson Coliseum as a trip back to the Pelican State with stops in New Orleans and Thibodaux awaits the Jacks before a trip down to Beaumont wraps up the first half of SLC play. SFA will then put a nine-game home winning streak on the line as a five-game home stand beginning with a CBS Sports Network showcase against longtime rival Northwestern State is on tap from January 26 through February 9.
The Jacks' lone ranked opponent in the poll is fellow Southland Conference foe McNeese at No. 18. The Cowboys rallied to beat the Lumberjacks 66-64 to hand SFA its first league loss, while keeping a lengthy home winning streak intact. SFA suffered a road loss to UTA which received two votes in the latest poll, and owns a convincing 25-point win over Arkansas State, ranked No. 32 in the extended version of the poll following 15 received votes.
As of games played through January 12, the Jacks rank 107th in the KenPom.com ratings and are inside the Division I Top 100 in NCAA NET rankings at No. 96. Both of those inclusions are currently the second-highest nods for a Southland program as the Jacks trail McNeese (No. 68 KP, No. 48 NET) who moved up two spots from the January 5 release. Of the advanced metrics, the Jacks hold a No. 62 rating in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Stephen F. Austin just held Incarnate Word without a three-pointer. It's the third time this season a team has failed to make a three against a Division I opponent.
— Trilly Donovan (@trillydonovan) January 13, 2026
Per CBB Reference, it's the 10th time SFA has held a team without a three since 2007 - tied with Princeton for the…
The Southland Conference regular season is heating up as the calendar moves to mid-January with three teams, including the Lumberjacks, tied atop the standings. The Jacks are joined by McNeese (14-3, 7-1 SLC) and Nicholls (8-9, 7-1 SLC), while four other teams have at least four league wins with A&M-Corpus Christi at 5-3.
Stephen F. Austin prepares for three games away from William R. Johnson Coliseum as a trip back to the Pelican State with stops in New Orleans and Thibodaux awaits the Jacks before a trip down to Beaumont wraps up the first half of SLC play. SFA will then put a nine-game home winning streak on the line as a five-game home stand beginning with a CBS Sports Network showcase against longtime rival Northwestern State is on tap from January 26 through February 9.
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