By PAUL GOTHAM
BROOKLYN — His coach knew he was the best player on the court before the game even started, and Thomas Walkup confirmed Brad Underwood’s opinion.
The Stephen F. Austin senior forward put his full offensive arsenal on display Friday night as the No. 14-seed Lumberjacks upset No.3 -seed West Virginia Mountaineers, 70-56 in the first round of NCAA East Region.
Walkup netted 23 of his game-high 33 in the second half, and Stephen F. Austin won its second NCAA Tournament game in three years.
“He was the best player on the court tonight,” Underwood said. “I don’t know what that translates to in the beyond. Tonight he was the best player on the court.”
Walkup scored 12 straight early in the second half as Lumberjacks began to take command of the game.
“Most nights we play, he is,” Underwood said when asked if his player was the best on the court Friday night. “We’re not on TV. We’re on ESPN3, every home game, and we don’t have many home games because nobody plays us at home.
“Thomas Walkup is as good a player and IQ, effort, unbelievable human being, as there is. If I had to start a team, I’m going to be hard pressed to find one that I would take over him.”
Walkup hit a pullup three to start the run. He capped it with four straight free throws, part of an effort which saw the 6-4 native of Texas convert 19 of 20 from the stripe.
“That was part of our game plan going in,” Walkup said. “We knew they fouled a lot, very aggressive on defense. So we knew we had to drive the ball, and it just started racking up. Tried to stay aggressive the entire game.”
His free throws at the 6:42 mark gave the Lumberjacks a double-digit advantage at 58-47.
“Thomas does whatever it takes to win,” Underwood added. “He’s one of the most resourceful, efficient players I’ve ever coached…and as basketball IQs go, there’s no one — I’ll put him against anybody that has a higher basketball IQ and feel for the game.”
Stephen F. Austin will play No. 6-seed Notre Dame on Sunday.
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