FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – True freshman Mike Green netted a career-high 23 points on 50 percent shooting to make today's game versus Northern Colorado close, but the Bears hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute and 15 seconds to keep Northern Arizona at arms' length and capture a 84-79 victory.  

 "I was proud of the way they responded after Thursday night and we can build after a game like this," said head coach Jack Murphy. "Today the guys played hard and competed the whole way through. We still have to put a full game together to come out on top and that's what we have to work on next."

It was all Green to start the game for NAU. The Florida product scored NAU's first 14 points to put the Lumberjacks out to a four-point lead. NAU led by as many as six points midway through the first half, but the Bears managed to claw their way back and take a 35-31 advantage into the locker room. Jordan Wilson had the magic hands for UNCO leading the Bears with 15 points at the break.

Looking at the stat sheet, the biggest difference was UNCO's edge on the boards 48-26. The Bears committed 15 turnovers to NAU's nine, but it was the Lumberjacks who passed the ball well coming away with 17 assists to UNCO's nine.

The Bears tallied 14 second chance points mostly due to the presence of Tanner Morgan. The big man pulled down 18 boards, boxing out the Lumberjacks down low. He registered seven offensive rebounds and 11 on the defensive end.   

Wilson led the offensive attack hitting 5 of 8 from the field for a team-high 20 points. The Bears shot 45.8 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the charity stripe.

Junior guard Kris Yanku tallied 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while junior forward Ako Kaluna recorded 11 points and six rebounds. Freshman forward Felix Rivera-Vega rounded out NAU's double digit scorers with 10 points. The Lumberjacks shot 45 percent from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers, while it uncharacteristically shot below 70 percent from the free throw line.

The loss dropped NAU to 3-15 overall and 1-5 in Big Sky play. UNCO improved to 7-13, 4-4 in league contests.

The Lumberjacks hit the road next week with games at Weber State (Jan. 28) and Idaho State (Jan. 30). The Wildcats entered the weekend as the only undefeated team left in league play, while the Vandals find themselves in lower half of the pack.

Notes: Mike Green netted the first 20-point game of his career…Kris Yanku registered his 17^th double digit scoring game of the season…The all-time series versus UNCO dropped to 10-15.