(photo via ACU Sports)
The Lumberjacks were unconscious from the field Saturday night against ACU. Stephen F. Austin shot a program-high 72.2 percent for the game in way to a 97-62 win over the Wildcats in Nacogdoches. ACU falls to 2-2 in conference and 7-10 overall, while the Lumberjacks are now 4-0, 11-5 and extend their home winning streak to 22 games.
The 72 percent shooting night was not only highest in the Lumberjacks 2,255 game history, but also the highest of any NCAA Div. I program this season. The 97 points is a season-high for SFA and their highest point turnout since their 102-87 win over Houston Baptist on February 28.
Freshman guard Jaylen Franklin led the way for ACU with 18 points on 9-11 shooting. Senior big men Austin Cooke put in nine points, while Duran Porter added eight points and a block. Sophomore guard Isaiah Tripp and freshman forward Jaren Lewis scored six points each on a combined 3-9 from the field.
The Wildcats kept things close through the first ten minutes of action. After a layup by senior forward Thomas Walkup, the Lumberjacks led 23-19, before ripping off a 19-8 run to move ahead 42-27. Both teams would head to the locker room at halftime with SFA up, 42-31.
The second half would see the Lumberjacks score 55 points over 20 minutes while making 22 of 28 attempts, including 8-9 from beyond the arc. SFA came out of the break with a 17-7 run over the opening five minutes to make it 59-38 with 14:08 left.
Both teams exchanged three point makes, followed by a Lumberjakcs layup that extended the lead to 30 points, 77-47 with nine minutes left. The Wildcats were just 1-9 from beyond the arc in the second half, but still made more than they missed for the game.
The Wildcats finished the game at 51 percent from the field, but struggled from three, converting just 4-17 attempts. ACU was under 50 percent from the foul line as well, making 8-18 attempts from the charity stripe.
The battle inside belonged to the Lumberjacks, with SFA scoring 44 points to ACU’s 40, and SFA owning a plus ten rebound advantage (29-19).
Sophomore guard Ty Charles scored a career-high 25 points for SFA with 11-12 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists. Walkup added 19 points and four assists. Five Lumberjacks ended in double figures while every SFA scorer shot over 50 percent.
The Wildcats come home to face McNeese State (3-11, 1-3) Tuesday night. ACU is 5-2 at home this year and have won three of their last four games at Moody Coliseum.
