FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 23, 2019) – Sophomore
Carlos Hines scored a career-high 32 points and
Bernie Andre recorded his second straight double-double and his seventh of the season with 10 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Northern Arizona men's basketball team dropped an 86-73 decision to Eastern Washington in the home finale on Saturday afternoon at the J. Lawrence Skydome.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Lumberjacks who slip to 9-18 overall and 7-10 in Big Sky action. Eastern Washington improves to 11-16 and 9-7 in league action.
"It was probably our toughest shooting night of the year," NAU head coach
Jack Murphy said. "That happens sometimes. I have all the faith and confidence in our group and I am excited for the last three games on the road."
NAU led briefly in the first half, but a shooting onslaught by Eastern Washington, which saw it hit seven three pointers, enabled it to build a 12-point lead at the break as the Lumberjacks struggled to hit from the outside making just 1-of-12 attempts from long distance in the opening 20 minutes.
The shooting struggles continued for the 'Jacks in the second half, which saw them make 11-of-35 attempts for a 31.4 percent clip. NAU finished the game with a 33.3 percentage from the field (21-63). The Eagles continued their hot performance from beyond-the-arc making another seven treys in the second half to finish 14-of-33 from beyond the arc.
Hines' 32-point performance marked the most points by an NAU player in over a calendar year as former Lumberjack
Torry Johnson posted 33 points at North Dakota on Feb. 17, 2018. Hines made 13-of-18 free throws, the most by a 'Jack since
JoJo Anderson connected on 17 vs. Montana on Dec. 28, 2017.
Andre tallied 10 points and pulled down a career-best 16 boards in securing his second-straight and team-leading seventh double-double of the season. Andre has now recorded double-figure points in 13 of the last 15 games overall. Freshman
Cameron Shelton also tallied 13 points and four rebounds for the Lumberjacks.
Eastern Washington was led in the victory by Tyler Kidd who led the Eagles with 19 points. Jesse Hunt tabbed a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as did Kim Aiken who recorded 11 points and a team-high 14 boards. Ty Gibson notched 16 points to round out the Eagles' scoring leaders.
The two teams combined for 65 free throw attempts – surpassing the previous high total for the 'Jacks of 63 combined attempts at San Jose State on Dec. 15.
The Lumberjacks will play each of their final three regular-season games on the road beginning next Saturday, March 2 at Montana State in a 2 p.m. MST tip from Bozeman.
The 'Jacks-Bobcats contest will be streamed on Pluto TV (Channel 238). It can also be heard on the Lumberjacks Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 1:30 p.m. MST.
