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SFA Lumberjacks, winners of 28 straight, face VCU in NCAA tournament with hopes of a run

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Stephen F. Austin's Thomas Walkup (0) drives uncontested to the basket for a layup as Sam Houston State's Kaheem Ransom (15), Paul Baxter (21) and James Thomas (20) watch during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Southland Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Katy, Texas. Stephen F. Austin won 68-49. (AP Photo/Bob Levey) (The Associated Press)

Sam Houston State's James Thomas (20) is fouled by Stephen F. Austin's Nikola Gajic (4) as Jacob Parker (34) assists on the defense during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Southland Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/Bob Levey) (The Associated Press)

Stephen F. Austin is headed to the NCAA tournament as the first 30-win team in Southland Conference history.

The Lumberjacks have more wins than Karl Malone's Louisiana Tech team that went to the Sweet 16 and finished 29-3 in 1985. SFA's No. 12 seed in the South Region is the best for the conference since Malone's bunch was at No. 5.

The Lumberjacks play in San Diego on Friday against VCU, one of the few double-digit seeds to reach the Final Four when the Rams made it to Houston at No. 11 in 2011.

Led by Southland Conference player of the year Jacob Parker, Stephen F. Austin has a 28-game winning streak, second in the country behind undefeated and top-seeded Wichita State.