PORTLAND, Ore. (Feb. 14, 2019) – Despite having five players score double-figure points, including three that either eclipsed or matched a career-high, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team saw its current losing streak extend to four with a 103-94 loss at Portland State on Thursday night.
The Lumberjacks never led in the loss and trailed by as many as 23 points with 12 minutes left in regulation. NAU did battle back to get within seven with 68 seconds left, but it was not enough to offset a shooting effort by the Vikings that saw them open the game by making nearly 66 percent of their shot attempts (21-of-32) in the first half and nearly 60 percent (39-of-66) for the game.
NAU allowed 58 points in the first half, which is the most it has allowed in any half this season. Portland State also enjoyed a 19-0 edge in points off turnovers to open the game as it capitalized off 13 miscues by the 'Jacks in the opening stanza.
"We got down big early again," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "You can lose the game in the first five or six minutes. We had 12 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game and only had four in the last 28 minutes. They led to a lot of points and put us in a hole. Once we settled down I thought we were much better."
Portland State's 103-point scoring total marked the most points allowed by the Lumberjacks against a Big Sky opponent in over 15 seasons with the most previous on Jan. 31, 2004 in a 110-97 loss to Sacramento State.
"Our defense was not where it should be tonight, they did a great job of penetrating into the paint and scoring in the paint," Murphy said. "I do think we settled into the game in terms of taking care of the basketball, getting good shots and making good shots. We just weren't able to get over that initial hump."
Sophomore
Bernie Andre tallied his fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead a total of five Lumberjacks who recorded double-figure points in defeat. Andre has now registered double-digit scoring efforts in six consecutive games and 12 of the last 13 overall. Freshman
Luke Avdalovic matched his career-best scoring effort with 20 points and drilled six treys, which also matched a career-high total.
Freshman
Cameron Shelton also matched a career-best with 15 points, as did fellow freshman
Nik Mains with 12. Sophomore
Carlos Hines rounded out NAU's scoring leaders with 12 points and also led the 'Jacks with five assists.
The Lumberjacks finished the game 22-of-30 from the foul line – Andre and Shelton combined to make 18-of-25 attempts from the charity stripe for NAU.
Portland State was led in the victory by a trio of players who registered 20 points or more. Holland Woods topped all scorers with 27 points. Michael Nuga totaled 22 points, while Sal Nuhu compiled 20 points, eight rebounds and six blocks.
The Vikings dominated the lane in the win owning a 54-28 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounding the Lumberjacks 35-31.
The Lumberjacks conclude their current road trip on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Sacramento State in an 8 p.m. MST tip.
The 'Jacks-Hornets contest will be streamed on Pluto TV (Channel 233). It can also be heard on the Lumberjacks Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 7:30 p.m. MST.
