FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Ako Kaluna registered a near double-double of 17 points and nine rebounds, as Northern Arizona axed visiting Idaho State tonight in the Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjacks connected on 27 field goals and led by 10 points at the half to come away with the victory over the fourth placed Bengals.

"I thought it was good that we had 21 assists because that meant we hit a lot of shots," head coach Jack Murphy said. "We made a lot of shots to start the game and I think that it catapulted our defense, especially in the second half. I thought there was great chemistry tonight and that's the kind of spark we need down the stretch like this."

The Lumberjacks (5-20, 3-11 BSC) carried a 40-30 lead into the locker room at halftime after a solid outing from the entire line-up. Every player that got in the game in the first half scored for NAU as they led by as many as 12 points to start off.

ISU cut the Lumberjacks' lead to five points with 15:27 remaining in the game, but NAU just surged on from that point. The next time NAU looked back the game clock read 4:55 and the Lumberjacks were up 18 points after a Kaluna layup. Nine points would be as close as the Bengals would get with a little less than two minutes to go in the game. The Lumberjacks found themselves taking down another team from the state of Idaho as it notched a 13-point win over Idaho State.

In addition to Kaluna, Kris Yanku recorded 14 points, nine assists, and six rebounds; playing 31 minutes with only one turnover. Torry Johnson tallied 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting, while Marcus DeBerry added 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Bengals (13-12, 8-5 BSC) had won three-straight games heading into tonight's match-up. Geno Luzcando had the hottest hands for Idaho State leading the offensive output for the Bengals with 23 points. Guard Ethan Telfair, one of the league's top scorers, finished with 12 point as the Lumberjacks held him to 2 of 7 from the field. Luzcando and Telfair hit a combined 16 of 17 free throws, while the Bengals shot 78.6 as a team.

NAU will host Weber State this Saturday. Tip-off at the Walkup Skydome is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Wildcats won the previous meeting 76-66 in Ogden on Jan. 28.

Notes:  NAU used its 14^th different starting lineup tonight going with Kye de Laveaga, Isaiah Thomas, Ako Kaluna, Marcus DeBerry, and Torry Johnson…Tonight was the fourth time in Big Sky play that NAU had led at the half…NAU improved to 2-2 in those games…NAU and ISU have split the season series for the last two seasons; each team winning at home.