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NAU MBB GAME NOTES
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 20, 2018) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team will close out the home portion of the regular-season schedule this week with a pair of games at the Rolle Activity Center beginning on Thursday, Feb. 22 in a 6:30 p.m. MST tip against Sacramento State.
The Lumberjacks will close out the two-game home stretch on Saturday, Feb. 24 in a 6 p.m. tip against Portland State in the annual Senior Night contest. The 2018 NAU senior class of
Gino Littles,
Ruben Fuamba and
Kye de Laveaga will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
Fans are reminded that parking is free for all NAU Basketball games and that tickets start at $8 ($6 for youth and seniors).
All fans at Thursday's game will each receive a set of NAU coasters (while supplies last), while Saturday fans will receive an NAU air freshener.
In addition, all students in attendance at Thursday's game vs. Sacramento State will receive a free NAU Popsocket and Saturday's matchup with Portland State will feature a 7,000 Club T-Shirt giveaway for all students with a valid ID.
Thursday's game vs. Sacramento State will be aired live on NAU-TV (Suddenlink Channel 4 in Flagstaff) and Saturday's meeting with Portland State will be televised live on NAU-TV and Phoenix's CW6 (Suddenlink Channel 6 in Flagstaff).
Both games will be broadcast live on the Lumberjack Radio Network with the voice of the Lumberjacks Mitch Strohman on the call beginning with the pregame show 30 minutes prior to tipoff. Each contest will also be streamed on
Pluto.TV (channel 239) and
WatchBigSky.com.
The Lumberjacks are currently 4-23 overall and 1-13 in Big Sky action entering the week and will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak following an 86-81 overtime setback at North Dakota in their most recent action on Feb. 17.
Junior
Torry Johnson current leads the Lumberjacks with an 11.7 scoring average and is fresh off a career-best 33-point performance in the loss at North Dakota. The 33 points also represented the most by a NAU player since Gabe Rogers scored 35 vs. North Dakota on Jan. 26, 2013.
Sophomore
Brooks DeBisschop paces NAU on the glass with a team-best 7.4 rebounds per contest (third-best in Big Sky Conference) and has pulled down double-digit board totals in four of the last eight games. He leads NAU with six double-figure rebounding performances this season.
Sacramento State enters Thursday's matchup with a 6-21 overall record and a 3-11 mark in Big Sky Conference games. The Hornets have dropped six consecutive games and are 1-11 in road games this season.
The Hornets are led by Justin Strings who is averaging 18.3 points per game, which also ranks tied for fifth among Big Sky Conference leaders.
The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series with Sacramento State 36-14 and boast a home mark of 21-3 against the Hornets. The teams have slit the last six meetings, including each winning on the others home court during a pair of games in 2016-17.
Portland State enters the week with a record of 16-11 which includes a 6-8 mark in Big Sky action. The Vikings have won two if their last three games. They will open the week against Southern Utah on Thursday night in Cedar City before traveling to Flagstaff to meet the 'Jacks on Saturday evening.
Bryce Canda leads all active Portland State players with a 14.4 ppg scoring average (13
th in Big Sky). Deontae North boasts a 21.1 game scoring average, which would rank third among Big Sky Conference leaders, but the senior has been suspended indefinitely and has not played since Jan. 20 vs. Weber State.
The Lumberjacks are 23-25 vs. Portland State in the all-time series and split the regular-season series a year ago with each team capturing a victory on its home court. The Vikings then defeated the 'Jacks 80-67 in the opening round of the 2017 Big Sky Conference Championship.
This week's games will represent Northern Arizona first meetings with both Sacramento State and Portland State this season.
ROAD TO RENO
- Tickets for the Big Sky Men's and Women's Basketball Championships can be purchased at www.RoadtoReno.com.
