The Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks secured a 66-57 win over the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros, with Keon Thompson scoring 32 points, including 18 in the second half. Thompson's impressive performance helped the Lumberjacks improve their record to 23-3, while the Vaqueros fell to 14-12. The 9-point margin of victory exceeded the predicted margin of 2.8 points, as the Lumberjacks outscored the Vaqueros 41-38 in the second half.
Keon Thompson's 32 Points Account for Nearly Half of Stephen F. Austin State's Total Score
The game got off to a strong start for the Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks, who led 25-19 at halftime. The Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 37.5% from the field in the first half. In the second half, the Lumberjacks continued to pull away, with Keon Thompson scoring 14 points in the first 10 minutes. The Vaqueros made a late push, but it was too little, too late, as the Lumberjacks secured the 66-57 win. The Vaqueros' Koree Cotton led the team with 15 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lumberjacks' strong team performance, which included 11 points from Narit Chotikavanic and 9 points from Lateef Patrick.
Keon Thompson was the standout performer for the Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks, scoring 32 points on 12-20 shooting from the field. Thompson's 32 points accounted for nearly half of the Lumberjacks' total score, and his 18 second-half points helped the team pull away from the Vaqueros. For the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros, Koree Cotton led the team with 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Jaylen Washington added 13 points and Filip Brankovic scored 10 points. The Lumberjacks' Narit Chotikavanic and Lateef Patrick also made significant contributions, scoring 11 and 9 points, respectively.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks outshot the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 45.8% to 37.5% from the field, and outrebounded them 34-29. The Lumberjacks also committed fewer turnovers, with 12 compared to the Vaqueros' 15. Keon Thompson's 32 points were the most in the game, and his 12 field goals made were also a game-high. The Vaqueros' Koree Cotton led the team with 6 rebounds, and Jaylen Washington's 13 points were the second-most on the team.
The CHD Scout predicted a Stephen F. Austin State win by 2.8 points, and the Lumberjacks exceeded that margin with a 9-point victory. The predicted score was 70-73, but the actual score was 66-57, with the Lumberjacks holding the Vaqueros to 9 points below their projected total. The CHD Scout was correct in predicting the winner, and the Lumberjacks' strong performance validated the prediction. The 9-point margin of victory was a significant improvement over the predicted margin, and it highlighted the Lumberjacks' dominance in the game.
The win improved the Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks' record to 23-3, and they remain ranked 82nd in the NET rankings. The loss dropped the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros to 14-12, and they are now ranked 136th in the NET rankings. This game was a Quadrant 3 game for both teams, and the Lumberjacks' win will help to strengthen their resume. The Vaqueros, on the other hand, must regroup and focus on their upcoming games to improve their tournament chances. With 9 Quadrant 3 wins, the Lumberjacks have a strong foundation for their tournament resume, and they want to build on this win in their upcoming games.
The Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks will face the New Orleans Privateers on February 17, while the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros will host the Lamar Cardinals on February 19. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with the Lumberjacks seeking to extend their winning streak and the Vaqueros aiming to bounce back from their loss.