Tucson, Ariz. (November 10, 2017) – Facing a season-opening game as tough as anyone in the nation, the Northern Arizona University men's basketball team hung tight with No. 3/5 Arizona for nearly 30 minutes before falling by a 101-67 margin at the McKale Center in Tucson on Friday night.
"I thought our guys came out and competed and played really hard and were aggressive," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "Arizona threw the first punch, but we fought right back and I am so proud of the group that ended the first half and all our guys, but that group that ended the first half played with such passion and energy. We won the last three minutes 7-0 and it gave us a lot of momentum and confidence."
The Lumberjacks shot a solid 15-of-31 (.484) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and trailed the talented Wildcats by just 13 points at intermission despite missing a total of six free throws and allowing the Wildcats to capitalize on seven NAU turnovers with 22 points.
Sophomore
Chris Bowling and junior
Isaiah Thomas paced the 'Jacks in the loss with a team-best 11 points each. Arizona was led by Allonzo Trier who finished with a career-best 32 points, while shooting 10-of-13 overall from the field and 10-of-11 from the free throw line in the victory.
Despite their obvious disadvantage in size, the Lumberjacks nearly matched the Wildcats in points in the paint in the first half 24-22 and trailed just 44-30 for the contest.
Northern Arizona biggest struggles came from the free throw line as it finished 17-of-30 from the charity stripe (4-of-10 in the first half).
The Lumberjacks also showed a lot of promise in the post as Thomas and Ruben Fuaamba as both were forced to guard 7-1 Wildcat Deandre Ayton, who is considered one of the top NBA prospects in college basketball and finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of blocks. The tandem was a major reason that NAU was able to have a presence in the lane throughout the contest.
Senior guard
Gino Littles played a team-high 27 minutes and routinely penetrated the paint en route to finishing with nine points and three assists. In addition, he earned a team-high eight trips to the charity stripe and connected on six of those attempts.
The Lumberjacks will return to action on Monday, Nov. 13 as they play host to Embry-Riddle in the regular-season home opener at Rolle Gymnasium in a 6:30 p.m. MST tipoff that will be televised live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Postgame Notes – at Arizona
- Friday's season opener at Arizona marked NAU's first game against a ranked opponent since the it faced No. 13/12 Arizona on Dec. 16, 2015 – which was also the Lumberjacks last meeting with the Wildcats – Arizona prevailed 92-37 in Tucson.
- Friday's game represented the first of a stretch of 10 of the opening 13 games that will see the Lumberjacks play away from home.
- Friday's matchup marked the 125th all-time meeting between Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona in the sport of men's basketball.
- Torry Johnson (G), Gino Littles (G), Brooks Debisschop (F), Isaiah Thomas (F) and Chris Bowling (F) opened the game as starters for the Lumberjacks.
- NAU junior Isaiah Thomas fouled out with 4:40 left in regulation.
- NAU junior Ruben Fuamba fouled out with 4:17 left.
