BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- "Press Virginia" was cut down by some Lumberjacks Friday at the Barclays Center.

Stephen F. Austin, the 14th seed, knocked off third-seeded West Virginia 70-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region. It was the Lumberjacks who caused havoc on defense and not the Mountaineers, despite their aforementioned moniker.

The Lumberjacks (28-5) scored 29 points off of 22 West Virginia (26-9) turnovers. Stephen F. Austin also recorded 16 steals, four each from Thomas Walkup, Demetrious Floyd and Clide Geffrard.

Walkup poured in a career-high 33 points to extend Stephen F. Austin's winning streak to 21, the longest in the country.

The Lumberjacks face Notre Dame in the second round on Sunday.

West Virginia reached the Sweet 16 last year.

Walkup was 19 of 20 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds and had four assists.

"That was part of our game plan going in," said Walkup of getting to the line. "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. We tried to stay aggressive the entire game."

The native of Pasadena, Texas, is confident the win will pull the Lumberjacks out of the NCAA forest.

"I think that people realize we're the real deal," said Walkup. "A couple of years ago, when we got an NCAA win, they thought it was almost a fluke. But I think now people are starting to realize that SFA is a really strong basketball program and really starting to make a name for ourselves.

"This is probably the most talented team I've ever played on. We have tremendous abilities and are very explosive at times. And on the other side of the ball, we sit down and guard the heck out of people. It's a dangerous combination."

The Lumberjacks led the nation in turnovers caused.

Devin Williams topped West Virginia with 12 points.

West Virginia consistently had problems getting into their sets and were forced to take ill-advised shots from the perimeter.

"I don't know why anybody would waste energy pressing us," lamented West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. "We'll throw it to you regardless. That would be a waste of energy really.

"We're very charitable. We're one of the most charitable groups in college basketball. The second straight game we've turned it over 20 times."

The Mountaineers never led in the second half, falling prey to Stephen F. Austin's pressure.

"Holding them (West Virginia) 0 for 9 (3-pointers) in the second half was a big part of it, " said Lumberjacks coach Brad Underwood. "We were so geared towards defending their perimeter -- or their interior players. For us to defend interior players like Devin Williams, it takes five guys.

"Our best interior defense is our perimeter defense, and not letting guys catch it on their spots and forcing them a couple steps further out and tracing the basketball and having active hands."

West Virginia cut the lead to 48-45 with 9:30 to play, but Stephen F. Austin responded with a 14-2 flurry to push the lead to 62-49, its largest of the second half to that point. Jared Johnson drilled two 3-pointers in the sequence and Walkup was 6 of 6 from the line.

Earlier in the second half, Stephen F. Austin extended its lead to 38-28. Walkup scored five of the seven points during the run on a 3-pointer and a layup.

The Lumberjacks scored 12 points from the free-throw line in the first half and made only eight shots from the floor but led 31-28 at halftime. Stephen F. Austin had 18 points off 12 West Virginia turnovers.

The Mountaineers connected on just one of their last 11 shots from the field in the opening half after leading by as many as nine points at 20-11 midway through the half.

NOTES: West Virginia was in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in nine seasons under coach Bob Huggins. ... Stephen F. Austin coach Brad Underwood was director of basketball operations under then-Kansas State coach Bob Huggins during the 2006-07 season. ... West Virginia was tops in the nation in steals and second in turnovers forced per game.