FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Dec. 6, 2017) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team used a 16-0 second-half run and made 7-of-8 free throw attempts in the final minute of regulation to post its second consecutive win by a 79-70 margin over San Diego Christian on Wednesday night at the Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff.
The Lumberjacks led by as many as 18 points in the contest and only trailed for a total of 1:48, but San Diego Christian battled back to make it a one possession game at 72-69 with 2:03 remaining before solid defense down the stretch and clutch free throw shooting allowed NAU to close out the victory.
"We need guys that want to play," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "San Diego Christian came here wanting to win. We must come out with toughness every night and a will to win. That was not the same team that beat CSU Bakersfield on Saturday night."
"During the second-half run that group played with great energy and passion and wanted to be out on the on the floor," Murphy said. "I changed the starting lineup in the second half. We need to get guys that consistently want to play. It's almost like they are out there and they are playing and it is fun if the shots are going in, but they have to consistently want to be out there."
"I thought we found a good group and a good nucleus that wanted to be out on the floor in the second half," Murphy added. "The problem was during that run they got a little tired and I had to sub. San Diego Christian did a good job and was able to pull the game back a bit, but we got the win and that feels better than the opposite would."
NAU moves to 2-7 overall with the victory, while San Diego Christian drops to 2-6 following the defeat. The triumph allowed the 'Jacks to post back-to-back wins for the first time since it defeated Northern Colorado and North Dakota in consecutive contests on Jan. 26 and 28, 2017.
Wednesday's victory marked the Lumberjacks' second home game of the season and their first over the last 23 days.
Junior
Isaiah Thomas led the way for the 'Jacks as he tallied his second straight double-double while recording career bests in points (17), rebounds (15) and minutes (30). Thomas carried the pail for NAU in the paint as the Lumberjacks were forced to play without the services of senior
Ruben Fuamba and sophomore
Brooks DeBisschop, who were each out due to foot injuries.
Junior
Karl Harris led all NAU scorers with 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Harris also pulled down nine rebounds and connected on 6-of-8 attempts from the free throw line. Senior guard
Gino Littles also dropped in 12, including a pair of clutch three-pointers which helped spark Northern Arizona's 16-0 second-half spurt, to round out the 'Jacks double-digit scorers.
The first half of the game was a tightly played before the 'Jacks opened up an eight-point edge at 29-21 with 2:47 remaining before intermission, but the Hawks rallied by hitting seven of their final nine field goals to close out the half and entered the break trailing just 32-28.
San Diego Christian got to within two points at 39-37 with 16:22 left in regulation before the 'Jacks ripped off 16 straight points over the next 3:31 to open up a 55-37 edge that they would not relinquish.
For the game, NAU shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field and hit 17-of-22 free throw opportunities. Once again the 'Jacks reserves played a big part in the contest as they outscored the Hawks' bench 36-21.
The 'Jacks also won the battle in the paint 44-36 and outrebounded San Diego Christian 43-29.
Northern Arizona returns to the road on Saturday, Dec. 9 when it travels to face the University of San Diego in an 8 p.m. MST tip that will be televised live on Fox Sports Arizona Plus (Suddenlink Channel 39 in Flagstaff).
The 'Jacks-Toreros matchup will also be broadcast live on the Lumberjack Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 7:30 p.m. MST.
