FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2019) – A slow shooting start hampered the Northern Arizona men's basketball team in a 63-48 loss to Northern Colorado on Saturday evening at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.
The Lumberjacks faced a 27-5 deficit just over 10 minutes into the contest as Northern Colorado held NAU without a field goal for the opening four minutes and connected on five three pointers in building the early edge.
"We just can't let our offense effect our defense and that is what we did for the first 12 minutes tonight," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "I admit I am a little stumped by our starts in these first games of homestands, we have to be better. That is on us as coaches and as a team. We have to come out with a better start and you can't allow a slow start to affect you in a negative way on the defensive end of the floor."
NAU chipped away for the rest of the first half as it tried to cut into the Bears' lead. Following a nearly six-minute stretch without a point, sophomore
Bernie Andre started a spurt that saw the 'Jacks trim the 22-point Northern Colorado advantage down to 11 in less than eight minutes to make the score 31-20 with 1:47 left until the break, unfortunately the Lumberjacks would get no closer.
"Our offense really never got clicking tonight," Murphy said. "We have a young and resilient team, but I would like them to learn that they don't have to get punched in the face before they respond. We need to be tougher and bring that energy right from the tip night in and night out."
Northern Colorado, which connected on a total of 10 treys in the win, took a 36-22 lead into halftime and went on to outscore the 'Jacks 27-26 in the second half to clinch the victory. The 'Jacks shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field in the loss – their second-lowest shooting performance this season.
Senior Jordan Davis controlled the Bears' offense all night as he dropped in 14 points while handing out nine assists. Kai Edwards (13), Matej Drgon (11) and Jalen Sanders (11) each also finished in double figures for Northern Colorado.
NAU was paced in the loss by sophomore
Carlos Hines who finished with a game-high 15 points and pulled down five rebounds. Freshman
Cameron Shelton added 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Andre led the 'Jacks on the boards with eight rebounds.
The battle in the lane was also decisive in the outcome as NAU was outrebounded 42-30 and was outscored in the lane by Northern Colorado 32-18. The Lumberjacks did turn seven offensive boards into a 12-5 advantage in second chance points.
The loss forces the Lumberjacks' overall mark slip to 5-13 and 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado rises to 14-7 and 8-2 in Big Sky play with the victory.
The Lumberjacks close out the current homestand with a matinee matchup on Monday, Jan. 28 vs. Southern Utah. Tip time is slated for 12 p.m. MST from the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.
The 'Jacks-Thunderbirds contest will be streamed on Pluto TV (Channel 239). It can also be heard on the Lumberjacks Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 11:30 a.m. MST.
