FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team (8-10, 3-2 Big Sky) got back to their winning ways against Idaho State (4-14, 1-5 Big Sky) with a 72-69 win over the Bengals. Senior guard Aaseem Dixon scored a team-high 20 points as the Lumberjacks won their fifth straight game over Idaho State.

NAU's ability to stay poised, mixed with some great shooting down the wire was how the Lumberjacks were able to garner the win tonight at the Walkup Skydome.

"I have to give our kids credit today for stepping up in the second half and changing the momentum," said head coach Jack Murphy. "We had a lot of great coaching ideas in the second half and it worked in our favor. It's always nice to get a win at home, but especially when we have to hit the road next."

It was an even battle in the first 10 minutes of the game as both teams struggled from the field shooting a combined 30 percent. Idaho State's Chris Hansen came into the game ranking sixth in the Big Sky averaging 16.7 points per game. Hansen scored 14 in the first 20 minutes with six free throws. Both teams were even on the glass grabbing 21 boards apiece.

After not scoring against Weber State, Dixon came out with a vengeance scoring 12 points in the first half. The Lumberjacks did an exceptional job of maintaining possession with just three turnovers in the first half. The largest lead of the first half was seven points, which the Bengals took into halftime 37-30.

NAU came out in the second half attacking on the offensive side of the ball going on a 14-6 run in the first five minutes. The Lumberjacks took the 44-43 edge at the 16:02 mark off a four-point play by Quinton Upshur where he got fouled on a three-pointer and converted at the three-point line.

The Bengals came back to take the lead quickly and creating a seven-point gap at 57-50 at the 9:51 mark. It took the Lumberjacks seven minutes to climb back, but they took a 63-62 lead off a three-pointer from Dixon with 2:51 left in the game. Both teams traded leads, but it was a three-point play by Gaellan Bewernick that gave NAU a 67-65 lead with 1:21 remaining. Dixon's long range jumper with 29 seconds left in the game saw NAU go up by four points. Upshur connected on three free throws in the final 11 seconds to help seal the win today.  

Jordyn Martin had his first double-digit scoring game in two weeks scoring 10 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Martin and the rest of the Lumberjacks' frontcourt came up big with five blocks in the game, two from Martin, two from Springs and one from Upshur. The Lumberjacks were tenacious on defense forcing 17 turnovers as the Bengals averaged just 12.1 entering today.

"I credit the coaches because they told me they have a lot of confidence in me after Thursday's game," said Dixon. "They told me to keep shooting and tonight I was able to get some good looks."

The Lumberjacks will be back in action next Thursday, Jan. 22, when they travel to face the University of Montana. NAU will then play at Montana State on Saturday.

Notes: Double figure scoring games: Quinton Upshur (14), Kris Yanku (13), Aaseem Dixon (12), Jordyn Martin (4)...Fourth 20-point game of the season for Dixon...Gaellan Bewernick finished with four rebounds to move up to eighth place on the NAU career rebounds chart with 601...Upshur scored in double figures for his sixth straight game...NAU improves to 30-16 versus Idaho State in Flagstaff