NAU Game Notes vs. Montana (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team will look to extend its Big Sky winning streak Saturday against Montana in an important league matchup. The Lumberjacks have won four consecutive games in conference action moving into a tie for fourth place with the Griz at 5-4 after a win over Montana State on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Head Coach Mike Adras and his staff will participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer® Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend, a collaborative initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

The event is slated for the weekend of Jan. 29-31, 2010. Participating NABC member coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Lumberjack fans are also encouraged to wear sneakers to games that weekend to show their support.

Montana played a strong second half to down Northern Arizona 71-54 in the Big Sky opener for both teams at Dahlberg Arena in the first meeting between the schools last month. The Griz built a double digit lead midway in the second half and the Lumberjacks failed to put a serious run on the rest of the way. Montana led by as many as 17 points late in the contest for the final margin of victory after leading by three at the half.

“We can't let them get easy buckets in transition,” said Head Coach Mike Adras. “I hope we can muster up as much energy on the defensive end Saturday as we did against Montana State.”

NAU trails 55-30 all-time against Montana including a 71-57 loss in Missoula earlier this season. NAU has lost three consecutive games to the Griz.

The game can be seen on the Dish Network at the Universityhouse Channel (9411). The game will also be shown free on Big Sky Television and can be heard in Flagstaff on the Lumberjack Radio Network.