SACARMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2019) – Sophomore
Carlos Hines scored 17 points, including 12 in a decisive 18-7 second-half run, to help lead the Northern Arizona men's basketball team to a 78-66 road win at Sacramento State on Saturday night.
The Lumberjacks never trailed in the win, which snapped a four-game losing streak, and led by as many as 14 points in a contest that saw them shoot a season-best .574 (27-of-47) from the field.
"We have split every two-game Big Sky road trip this season and that shows the resiliency that we have been lacking," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "The guys are coachable and are tough. They can play hard-nosed defense and that is exactly what they did tonight. I was really proud of them and how we executed at the end tonight."
NAU came out fast and ran out to an early 18-7 lead as it capitalized on some early turnovers by Sacramento State to build a 9-0 edge in points off miscues in the opening eight minutes. Freshman
Luke Avdalovic hit a pair of three's and scored eight of his 14 points in the first half to lead the early surge for the 'Jacks.
Following a slow start to the second half, which saw the Hornets erase the Lumberjacks' lead and deadlock the game with 11:20 remaining for the first time since the opening tip at 42-42, NAU exploded offensively with Hines leading the way as it outscored Sacramento State 18-7 behind 12 points from Hines to open up an 11-point edge at 60-49.
The Lumberjacks would hold off the Hornets as they would get no closer than within seven points the rest of the way. NAU shot a blistering 70 percent (14-of-20) from the field in the second half in securing the victory.
"That is a Sacramento State ball club that comes at you every second that you are on the court," Murphy said. "They are so well coached, they are so tough and physical. We met them step for step, every step of the way and couldn't be more proud."
Hines led NAU with 17 points and was one of four Lumberjacks to finish with double-figure points. Freshman
Nik Mains came off the bench and eclipsed his career-high in points for the second-straight game with 16 on 5-of-6 shooting from the field.
Cameron Shelton notched 12 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds in the win.
Hines also handed out nine assists in the victory – marking his ninth game this season with five or more assists. As a team, NAU finished with 19 assists, which matched a season single-game high.
Sacramento State was paced in the loss by Marcus Graves, who tabbed 18 points and Bryce Fowler, who finished with 16. Joshua Patton had six points and 10 rebounds while Osi Nwachukwu added 12 points and Ethan Esposito scored 11.
The win moves the Lumberjacks' overall record to 8-17 and 6-9 in Big Sky action. The Hornets fall to 11-12 on the season and 5-9 in the conference loop.
The Lumberjacks return to Flagstaff next week for the final homestand of the season which will begin with a showdown against Idaho on Thursday, Feb. 21 in a 6:30 p.m. MST tip at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
The 'Jacks-Vandals 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 6 p.m. MST.
