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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Stephen F. Austin State University men's |
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basketball team created a memorable season for its fans in |
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2013-2014, winning a conference championship and capturing the |
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program's first NCAA Tournament victory; and |
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WHEREAS, In the first year under new head coach Brad |
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Underwood, the Lumberjacks employed an attacking offense and a |
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pressure defense en route to an undefeated mark versus league |
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opponents during the regular season; entering the Southland |
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Conference Tournament as the number one seed, they bested |
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Northwestern State University and then defeated Sam Houston State |
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University in the championship game to claim the tournament crown |
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and secure a spot in the 2014 NCAA Tournament; and |
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WHEREAS, Matched with the squad from Virginia Commonwealth |
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University in the second round of the "Big Dance," SFA jumped out to |
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a double-digit lead early in the second half before a furious |
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comeback put VCU up by four; with only three seconds remaining in |
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regulation, senior guard Desmond Haymon completed an improbable |
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four-point play to send the game into overtime; the Lumberjacks |
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then proved their resiliency once again as they held on for a 77-75 |
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victory to continue their postseason run; in the subsequent |
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third-round matchup with UCLA, the team fought admirably but |
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ultimately fell to the Bruins, bringing the historic season to a |
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close; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lumberjacks' impressive performance in the NCAA |
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Tournament capped an unforgettable year in which SFA compiled a |
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29-game winning streak while finishing with an overall record of 32 |
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wins and just 3 losses; the team's remarkable season was the result |
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of the outstanding efforts of each member of the roster: |
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Mr. Haymon, Connor Brooks, Ben Brown-White, Dallas Cameron, Tanner |
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Clayton, Patrick Costello, Justin Dotson, Nikola Gajic, Jason |
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Martin, Jacob Parker, Trey Pinkney, Sharife Sergeant, Deshaunt |
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Walker, Thomas Walkup, and Reed Westbrook; moreover, these talented |
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student-athletes received vital support from Coach Underwood as |
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well as from assistant coaches Mike Boynton Jr., Stephen Gentry, |
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and Erik Pastrana; and |
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WHEREAS, The Stephen F. Austin State University men's |
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basketball team is a source of tremendous pride to all those |
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associated with the university, and the team's superlative |
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accomplishments indeed merit special recognition; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Stephen F. Austin State University |
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men's basketball team on its achievements during the 2013-2014 |
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season and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |