| GAME 11: Northern Arizona (2-8, 0-0 Big Sky) vs. Montana (7-4, 0-0 Big Sky) |
| GAME 12: Northern Arizona (2-8, 0-0 Big Sky)* vs. Montana State (3-7, 0-0 Big Sky)* |
* - Montana State plays at Southern Utah on 12/29
PROMOTIONS
12/31 vs. Montana State - First 500 Fans in attendance will receive a 2019 NAU Foam Hat
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 28, 2018) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team returns home on Saturday as it opens the Big Sky Conference schedule against Montana in a 2 p.m. MST matinee at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.
NAU will also take on Montana State on Monday, Dec. 31 in a 12 p.m. MST tip in the second and final contest of a two-game homestand. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a 2019 NAU Foam Hat to help ring in the New Year!
Both of the Lumberjacks' games during the opening weekend of Big Sky Conference action will be streamed to a national audience on Pluto TV (Channel 239) and aired on the Lumberjack Radio Network beginning with the pregame show 30 minutes before tip.
NAU enters Saturday's game vs. Montana 22-26 all-time in Big Sky Conference openers after falling to Montana by an 87-69 margin last season on Dec. 28, 2017. The 'Jacks have dropped each of their last four conference openers.
The Lumberjacks last opened league play with a victory on Jan. 2, 2014 when it defeated the Grizzlies 73-65 in Missoula. NAU has faced Montana in its initial Big Sky contest in six of the previous 10 seasons, including Saturday's matchup.
NAU will be playing just its third home game of the season and its second at the Skydome when it battles Montana. The 'Jacks will be looking to improve to 2-1 at home this season and snap a seven-game losing streak when it faces the Grizzlies.
The Lumberjacks played eight of their 10 non-conference games on the road and will be playing their first game in seven days following an eight-day, three-game road trip that saw NAU drop games at San Jose State, San Francisco and Utah.
NAU trails the all-time series with the Grizzlies 69-32 entering Saturday's clash. The Lumberjacks have dropped each of the last seven meetings with Montana with their last victory coming on March 8, 2014 in Flagstaff by a 67-47 margin. The 'Jacks own an all-time record of 2-9 against Montana in the
Jack Murphy era, including a 1-4 mark at home.
Montana currently boasts an overall record of 7-4. The Grizzlies are the reigning Big Sky Conference champions after earning the league's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament where it was defeated in the opening round by eventual finalist Michigan.
Montana State enters the opening weekend of conference play 3-7 overall and will travel to Flagstaff to meet the Lumberjacks after opening league play at Southern Utah on Saturday.
NAU leads the all-time series with Montana State 52-47 and owns a 33-15 mark against the Bobcats in games played in Flagstaff entering Monday's clash. The 'Jacks own an all-time record of 5-7 against Montana State in the
Jack Murphy era, including a 3-3 mark at home.
The Lumberjacks currently have a total of four players averaging double-figure points, led by sophomore
Carlos Hines' team-best 13.0 points per game. Sophomore
Bernie Andre has notched 12.7 ppg, while junior
Ted McCree has tallied a 10.8 ppg average and fellow junior
Davon Bolton has netted 10.3 ppg over the initial 10 contests.
In addition, freshman
Luke Avdalovic has been hot for the 'Jacks in recent games posting a 15.7 scoring average over the last three contests and knocking down a total of 14 three-pointers over that span.
About Montana:
Record: 7-4, 0-0 Big Sky
2018-19 Preseason Big Sky Coaches/Media Polls: First/First
All-Time Series: Montana leads 69-32
Last Meeting: Montana, 82-64 (Jan. 27, 2018)
About Montana State:
Record: 3-7, 0-0 Big Sky
2018-19 Preseason Big Sky Coaches/Media Polls: Tied for Sixth/Fifth
All-Time Series: NAU leads 52-47
Last Meeting: NAU, 77-75 (Jan. 25, 2018)
