FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 23, 2020) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team finally returns to Flagstaff for a lengthy homestand in the Walkup Skydome beginning Saturday versus Portland State at 4 p.m. The Lumberjacks will also host Sacramento State at 6 p.m. in the Skydome on Monday.
Both of this week's games will be streamed on Pluto TV Channel 539 and can be heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network with the Voice of the Lumberjacks
Mitch Strohman on the call.
NAU enters the weekend with a 9-7 overall record and 3-4 conference mark after a big road sweep of Southern Utah, 75-72, and Northern Colorado, 64-58. The road sweep – the program's first in conference play in nearly six years – capped a stretch of five road games in their seven to start the Big Sky slate.
The 'Jacks overcame double-digit deficits in both games (12 points at Southern Utah and 10 points at Northern Colorado) after going over three years without a victory after trailing by 10 or more points.
Junior
Cameron Satterwhite posted a season-high 16 points against Northern Colorado and has scored in double-figures in seven of the last eight games. Satterwhite's 12.3 points per game average in conference play is only eclipsed by senior
Brooks DeBisschop's 14.3 points per game during the league schedule.
DeBisschop, who notched his third double-double of the season last Saturday at Northern Colorado, has scored in double-figures in five straight games - the longest such streak of his career.
The Lumberjacks, who do not take part in Thursday's three-game slate around the league, are just one game out of the win column of second place through the first four weeks of conference play. Behind Montana's Big Sky-leading 6-1 record, NAU is one of eight teams with either three or four Big Sky victories.
NAU and Portland State will meet for the 50th time on Saturday. Both teams won on their home court last season with NAU claiming an 82-75 victory and Portland State winning a shootout, 103-94.
The all-time series is tied 25-25 with Portland State having the recent edge with a 5-2 mark over the last four seasons since NAU won five in a row from 2013-15.
The all-time series has been dominated by the home team with NAU holding a 16-7 advantage in Flagstaff, while the 'Jacks are just 7-17 in Portland. The Lumberjacks have won five of the last six meetings at home. In a remarkable stat, four of those five wins have come by exactly seven points.
NAU and Sacramento State will meet for the 57th time on Monday. Sacramento State defeated NAU earlier this season, 64-57, in Sacramento on Jan. 9.
NAU leads the all-time series 39-17 and the Lumberjacks have won 20 of 26 meetings and 11 of the last 13 at home. Including the loss earlier this month, the Lumberjacks have dropped their last two versus the Hornets.
Fans can purchase season and single game tickets for the 2019-20 NAU men's basketball season online at
nauathletics.com/tickets or by calling the Lumberjack Ticket Office at 928-523-0639.
