The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (5-3, 0-0) defeated the ULM Warhawks (3-6, 0-0) 68-60 on the road thanks to a big second half scoring effort from Matt Hayman.
The Lumberjacks wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early as Nana Antwi-Boasiako recorded a dunk for the ‘Jacks to put them ahead 2-0 early. Four minutes after their opening basket, Clayton Southwick would convert a three-point play to put SFA back in the lead 5-4 over ULM five minutes into the first half. Southwick would continue his hot stretch with another basket just 45 seconds later, which was followed by a Dominc Pangonis three-pointer to help SFA tie the Warhawks at 10 points apiece.
The Pangonis three helped spark a 7-0 SFA scoring run that was capped off with a pair of free-throws from Nana Antwi-Boasiako and a layup from Matt Hayman to extend the SFA lead to 14-10. The Warhawks would once again have a response to SFA’s scoring as they would put together a 9-3 scoring run of their own to take a 19-17 lead halfway through the first half.
Both teams would hunker down on defense over the next four minutes as neither team was able to muster a point. SFA would start to find their touch on offense with five minutes left in the half as Matt Hayman helped spark an 8-2 scoring run that saw four different Lumberjacks record baskets to put SFA ahead 25-21. The Warhawks would refuse to go away though as they would promptly respond with a 4-0 scoring run to tie the game at 25-25. Keith Lamar would knock down his second triple of the half, followed by a Matt Hayman jumper to regain the five-point SFA lead at 30-25. ULM would have the last say in scoring for the half as they would connect on a layup with two seconds left to end the half with an SFA 30-27 halftime lead.
The second half opened with a Matt Hayman jumper to extend the SFA lead back to five at 32-27. Myles Jenkins would start to stamp his name on the second half as he would rattle off nine of the next 11 points for SFA thanks to some highly efficient shooting to help offset seven points from the Warhawks to put SFA ahead 43-34 five minutes into the second half. The Warhawks would refuse to go down without a fight as over the next five minutes, they embarked on an 11-0 scoring run to take a 45-43 lead halfway through the second half.
Shortly after the halfway point of the half, Matt Hayman would become unstoppable from beyond the arc as he would drain four triples for SFA over the span of three minutes, including three consecutive possessions with a three-pointer for the Lumberjacks to help launch SFA back in the lead at 60-55 with five minutes remaining.
The Warhawks would start to close in on the Lumberjacks lead thanks to four straight free-throws to trim the SFA lead down to one at 60-59. However, a Juhlawnei Stone free-throw and a fifth Matt Hayman triple helped push SFA back ahead at 64-59. Hayman would rattle off three more points for the ‘Jacks to push their lead to eight at 67-59. The Warhawks would knock down a free-throw to make the score 67-60, however, Matt Hayman would fittingly score the final points of the contest with a free-throw to seal the win for SFA as they claimed a 68-60 road victory over ULM.
The Lumberjacks were efficient shooting the ball tonight as they shot 47 percent from the field, and 33 percent from beyond the arc. The ‘Jacks knocked down eight three-pointers to tie their season high for a game thanks to five triples from Matt Hayman in the second half, while also receiving solid scoring down low with 30 points in the paint.
Top Players of the Game:
- Matt Hayman: 27 points (career-high), five three-pointers (career-high), four rebounds, one assist, one block, one steal
- Myles Jenkins: 11 points, two rebounds, one assist, two blocks (led team)
- Nana Antwi-Boasiako: Seven points, seven rebounds (led team), two assists, one block (recorded 100th career block), one steal
- Keith Lamar: Eight points, two three-pointers, two assists, one block
The Lumberjacks stay on the road for their next game as they open their Southland Conference schedule in Edinburg to face UTRGV on Thursday, December 5th. Tip-off for Thursday’s game against the Vaqueros is set for 6:30 p.m. CST. You can watch all the action on ESPN+, as well as follow along with live stats provided on the SFA Athletics Website.
Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications