| GAME 30: Northern Arizona (9-20, 7-12 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (21-9, 15-4 Big Sky) |
NAU GAME NOTES - AT NORTHERN COLORADO
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 8, 2019) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team will wrap up the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday at Northern Colorado in a 5 p.m. MST tip.
The Lumberjacks are currently battling to secure their seeding for the 2019 Big Sky Championship next week in Boise, Idaho. The 'Jacks currently sit in ninth place in the standings, but could land anywhere from No. 8-10 based on the outcome of Saturday's games across the league.
If NAU finishes as the No. 8 or No. 9 seed, then it will play at 8:30 a.m. MST on Wednesday and if it is the No. 10 seed it will at approximately 11 a.m. MST on Wednesday. The top five teams in the Big Sky standings will earn a opening-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament.
Saturday's game at Northern Colorado will be streamed to a national audience on Pluto TV (Channel 241) and aired on the Lumberjack Radio Network, beginning with the pregame at 4:30 p.m. MST.
The Lumberjacks currently own an overall record of 9-20 and a 7-12 mark in Big Sky Conference action.
NAU enters Saturday's game at Northern Colorado trailing the Bears in the all-time series 19-11. The Lumberjacks dropped a 63-48 decision to the Bears in Flagstaff on Jan. 26 in the initial meeting between the programs this season. NAU has lost each of its last three meetings overall with the Bears and 12 straight in Greeley.
The Lumberjacks' last win over Northern Colorado came during the 2016-17 season by a 65-50 margin (Jan. 26, 2017). NAU's last road win vs. the Bears came during the 2005-06 campaign by an 88-78 margin. The 'Jacks are 2-12 all-time in games played on the road in the series.
The Bears currently own an overall record of 21-9 and are 15-4 in Big Sky play (tied for first). Northern Colorado has won each of its last four games entering Saturday's contest with NAU.
The Lumberjacks currently have a total of three players averaging double-figure points, led by sophomore
Bernie Andre's team-best 13.2 points per game. Andre became the first Lumberjack in over four years to be honored by the conference on Feb. 26 after posting back-to-back double-doubles and career bests in both points and rebounds.
Joining Andre in double-digits for the 'Jacks are sophomore
Carlos Hines, who has tallied a 12.8 ppg average and scored a career-high 32 points vs. Eastern Washington on Feb. 23. Junior
Ted McCree rounds out the Lumberjacks' scoring leaders with an 11.1 scoring average.
In addition, freshman
Luke Avdalovic continues to be a major weapon for the Lumberjacks from beyond the arc. He currently leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth nationally with a .504 (67-of-133) shooting percentage from three-point range.
NAU (9-20, 7-12 Big Sky) has already eclipsed its conference and overall win total from last season. The conference win total marks the earliest point in a season that the 'Jacks have secured three Big Sky victories since 2014-15.
About Northern Colorado:
Record: 21-9, 15-4 Big Sky
2018-19 Preseason Big Sky Coaches/Media Polls: 3rd/3rd
All-Time Series: NAU trails 19-11
Last Meeting: Northern Colorado, 63-48 (Jan. 26, 2019)
QUICK HITS
- NAU led by as many as nine points and for over 27 minutes in a 66-64 loss at Montana on March 4.
- NAU has led by nine points in each of its losses vs. Montana this season.
- The Grizzlies outscored the 'Jacks 20-6 over the final 6:30 to secure the victory.
- Freshman Luke Avdalovic connected on 6-of-10 treys en route to a career-best 24 points at Montana on March 2.
- Sophomore Bernie Andre pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds at Montana State - it marked his eighth game this season with double-digit boards.
- NAU's 75-54 win over Idaho on Feb. 21 allowed the Lumberjacks to sweep a season series from a conference opponent for the first time since the 2014-15 season, when they posted a pair of regular-season victories over Southern Utah and Portland State.
- The 21-point margin of victory over Idaho on Feb. 21 marked the Lumberjacks' largest against a conference foe since it defeated North Dakota 88-63 on Feb. 7, 2015 – a span of 77 Big Sky regular-season games.
- It was also the Lumberjacks' largest margin of victory overall since defeating Benedictine Mesa 92-63 on Nov. 17, 2016.
- Sophomore Bernie Andre scored a career-high 22 points and added 13 rebounds in the win over the Vandals. Andre followed with 10 points and a then career-best 16 rebounds for his team-leading seventh double-double of the season vs. Eastern Washington on Feb. 23.
- Sophomore Carlos Hines scored 32 points in the Feb. 23 loss to Eastern Washington.
- It marked the most points by an NAU player in over a calendar year - 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.
- The Lumberjacks worst two shooting performances from the field this season have come in each of their losses to Eastern Washington.
- Sophomore Bernie Andre has recorded double-digit point totals in 14 of the last 18 games overall.
- Andre has had two streaks of six consecutive games in double-figure points this season - the longest by a Lumberjack.
- NAU shot a 57.4 (27-of-47) clip from the field in its win at Sacramento State on Feb. 16. It marked the Lumberjacks' highest shooting performance this season, besting a .563 (27-of-48) clip at Idaho State on Jan. 5.
- The 'Jacks handed out a total of 19 assists in its Feb. 16 victory at Sacramento State, which matched a previous season-high effort vs. Montana State on Dec. 31. The two games mark the most helpers for NAU since dishing out 21 at UTEP on Dec. 17, 2016.
- NAU's victory at Sacramento State marked the second victory this season which has seen the 'Jacks never trail - joining the Feb. 2 win at Idaho as wire-to-wire victories for NAU.
- NAU had a total of five players register double-figure points in its 103-94 loss at Portland State on Feb. 14 - it marked just the third time this season that the 'Jacks have had five double-digit point producers in the same game.
- 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.
- The Lumberjacks' 48 points in their loss vs. Northern Colorado on Jan. 26 marked its fewest points scored since posting 47 vs. CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 5, 2016.
- NAU registered double-figure steals in two straight games on Jan. 17 & 19 vs. Sacramento State (10) and Portland State (11).
- The 'Jacks only had one previous game this season with double-figure steals - vs. Jacksonville (10) on Nov. 10.
- The 'Jacks had a total of three players score 18 points in the win over Portland State on Jan. 19.
