Yanku joins the 1,000-Point Club. 'Jacks fall in double OT to MSU 74-72
/ January 02, 2016
Box Score FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For the second game in a row Northern Arizona found itself playing in overtime, but it couldn't turn the tides in its favor as it fell to visiting Montana State, 74-72.
"This team continues to battle hard and our record does not reflect that," said head coach Jack Murphy. "We have to find ways to win, because we're coming too close to not earn the victories. Our focus now is on Southern Utah, our opponent next week. We have to continue to give it our best."
For NAU (2-11, 0-2 BSC), junior guard Kris Yanku became the 28th player to join the 1,000-Point Club today. He entered needing 11 points to earn the achievement and he finished with a team high 19 points. Add to that nine rebounds, four steals, and three assists, and it hurts to see a production like that not awarded with a win.
NAU led at the half, 27-24, but the Bobcats shot 50 percent from three-point range in the second period to make their way up the scoreboard and tie it all up to force overtime.
Marcus Colbert was a big catalyst for MSU (6-8, 1-1 BSC) netting 23 points in the game, 16 coming in the second half.
The Lumberjacks lost Yanku in overtime after he fouled out. The Bobcats took advantage of the void and after making five of seven field goals and three of six free throws; it was Montana State that was victorious at the Walkup Skydome escaping with a two-point win.
Both teams had four players score in double figures, while neither team led by more than nine points in the contest.
NAU hits the road for the first time in league play when it travels to Southern Utah for its lone game of the week. The Lumberjacks and Thunderbirds are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off in Cedar City at Centrum Arena. NAU leads the all-time series 15-10.
Notes: For the second game in a row, NAU had Yanku, Johnson, Kaluna, Rivera-Vega, and DeBerry as starters…Yanku became the 28th Lumberjack to join the 1,000-Point Club…NAU shot 38.6 percent from the floor, 46.0 percent from behind the arc, and 73.1 percent from the charity stripe…MSU shot 41.8 percent from the floor, 32.0 percent from long range, and 55.6 percent from the free throw line.
