FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Cameron Jones led Northern Arizona to a 71-58 victory over Montana State with 22 points and career-best tying nine rebounds as the Lumberjacks won their fourth consecutive game.

NAU improved to 11-9, 5-4 in Big Sky play with the victory, while Montana State dropped to 11-9, 6-3.

“We were prepared for this game,” said Head Coach Mike Adras. “We counted on our guys getting ready mentally.”

NAU scored the first 12 points in the game and led by more than 20 points just 12 minutes into the contest at 28-7. The Lumberjacks extended the lead to many as 25 points in the opening period while holding the Bobcats to 16 percent (5-for-31) from the field.

NAU almost tied a school record for points allowed in a half (10) set against Idaho State in 1975-76 but Marquis Navarre's three-pointer at the buzzer kept the Bobcats out of the record book as the Lumberjacks led 33-13.

“I thought we did a really good job of getting out on their shooters,” said Adras. “When the penetrators came we got blocks. In the first half it was not easy. They made great adjustments at halftime.”

The Bobcats scored the first six points of the second half to cut the deficit to 14 but never got any closer than 12 points in the final 20 minutes.

Cameron Jones scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half including a stretch over 2:39 on the clock when he scored 10 straight points. Gabe Rogers and DeAngelo Jones each contributed 13 points in the victory.

NAU shot 46.8 percent for the game and hit nine three-pointers, while making 18-of-22 free throw attempts. MSU shot just 35.6 percent for the game but managed a 57 percent mark in the second half.

Brandon Johnson and Navarre both scored 12 points for MSU. The Bobcats dropped their eighth consecutive game in Flagstaff in the series.

NAU plays host to Montana on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 6:36 p.m. The Grizzlies upset second place Northern Colorado 64-62 in Greeley Thursday night.