FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team closed out their regular season at home against Sacramento State. The Lumberjacks honored five seniors before the game but it was sophomore Kris Yanku that sent the Lumberjacks home with a thrilling win making a contested layup with three seconds left in the game giving NAU the 70-68 win over the Hornets.

"I'm feeling pretty good, because that was a big win," said head coach Jack Murphy. "I was proud of the guys and the way they guarded during the second half. We decided to play defense like we've played for the entire season, holding their shooting to 40 percent. The guys stepped up and played some tough basketball. That is a great team and to hold them to 29 points in the second half is outstanding."

A lot was riding on the final game in the Walkup Skydome as Sacramento State was looking to clinch a share of the Big Sky title and NAU was looking to improve its seeding as high as two in next week's Big Sky Tournament.

Sacramento came out firing shooting 61.5 percent from the field in the first half making 6 of 10 three-pointers. Aaseem Dixon led the way for NAU in the first 20 minutes with 13 points off 5-8 shooting from the field. Out of the eight players that played for the Hornets in the first half, seven scored with Eric Stuteville leading the way with eight points.

Despite shooting 36 percent from the field in the first half, Northern Arizona was able to stay in the game going perfect from the free throw line 13-for-13. The Lumberjacks were able to capitalize on the glass out-rebounding Sacramento State 20-7, pulling down 11 offensive rebounds. Jordyn Martin grabbed four offensive rebounds in just 13 minutes in the first half. Cleaning the glass was Gaellan Bewernick with five boards as NAU went into halftime trailing the Hornets 39-33.

The Lumberjacks started the second half on a 10-4 run to tie the game at 43 with 16 minutes left in the game sparked by Quinton Upshur scoring six points in the first four minutes. NAU took its first lead of the game at the 15:12 mark off two free throws from Ako Kaluna and the 'Jacks extended their lead to four on the next possession of a steal and layup from Yanku to put NAU up by four.

Sacramento State responded with an 8-0 run over a three minute span to retake the lead 54-53 with 9:10 left in the game. Kaluna tied the game at the two-minute mark with a pair of free throws, making it 68-All.

Not only did Yanku's game-winning layup sting the Hornets, it also gave Sacramento State its 12^th straight loss in Flagstaff.

"Coach Murphy drew up a play and we knew we had to execute," said Yanku. "I know I needed to drive to the basket and connect. In my mind I just wanted to make the shot."

Dixon finished with a team-high 18 points. Ako Kaluna had 14 points and nine rebounds, Upshur added 13 points and Yanku recorded 12 points and eight assists. NAU finished 41.8 percent from the floor and 90.5 percent from the free throw line going 19 of 21.

Mikh McKinney led the Hornets with 19 points and seven assists. Dreon Bartlett added 11 points and Dylan Garrity had 10 points. Sacramento State finished 52.1 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range.

Double figure scoring games: Quinton Upshur (24), Kris Yanku (24), Aaseem Dixon (21), Ako Kaluna (15)...Gaellan Bewernick increased his career games played total to 122...Kris Yanku set a new season made free throws record with 184...All five seniors - Aaseem Dixon, Len Springs, Zachary Reynolds, Quinton Upshur and Gaellan Bewernick got the start today...Sacramento State has now lost 12 straight in Flagstaff...The Hornets haven't won in Flagstaff since February 26, 2005.