FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 27, 2020) – The Northern Arizona University men's basketball team shot 51.2 percent (21-for-41) from the field during the Lumberjacks' Monday night victory over Big Sky Conference rival Sacramento State, 69-54, at the Walkup Skydome.
The Lumberjacks' win propelled them to a game over .500 in conference play as NAU (11-7, 5-4 Big Sky) nears the halfway point of the conference season. Northern Arizona is now in the midst of a four-game winning streak and had three Lumberjacks score in double-figures led by senior forward
Brooks DeBisschop and junior forward
Bernie Andre, who both scored 15 points. Sophomore guard
Luke Avdalovic finished with 14 points and led the 'Jacks with two steals.
NAU also shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from behind the three-point line led by Andre, who drilled three deep shots throughout the evening. Northern Arizona outrebounded Sacramento State 33-to-27 as Andre was the top contributor in that category as well raking in seven rebounds.
"As we keep going through the season we still have to get better," said interim head coach
Shane Burcar. "We have to get better; we did a couple of different things in the post. It was a great team effort as far as guarding (Joshua) Patton and closing them off in three-point shooting."
DeBisschop recorded six rebounds and two blocks six rebounds and tied sophomore guard
Cameron Shelton for the team-high in assists with six. DeBisschop's six assists set a new career-high.
The Hornets had the Lumberjacks' number early in the game as they jumped to a lead that was as large as seven points at 20-13 with 11:25 left in the first half. Sacramento State's control was sustained until the closing moments of the first half.
Senior forward
Chris Bowling nailed a crucial three to bring NAU within two points of the Hornets lead and following a missed jumper by Sacramento State's Joshua Patton, Andre pulled in a rebound that led to a DeBisshop layup to tie it all up at 25-25 with 5:49 left in the half.
Sacramento State attempted to hold its lead, but the Lumberjacks' late first half offensive surge ended with a three-point basket by junior guard
Cameron Satterwhite to give the 'Jacks a 37-29 lead into halftime.
An aggressive start offensively in the second half put NAU in position to close out its fourth straight win. The Lumberjacks' lead grew to as much as 22 points before it was all said and done. Avdalovic led NAU in scoring in the second as shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor and scored eight of his 14 points. The Lumberjacks were 10-for-19 in shooting during the second half, while also holding the Hornets to an 8-for-23 showing.
"I have hung our hat on playing different styles," Burcar said. "To have scored 84 points on Saturday and come in and score in the sixties and hold them to somewhere in the fifties, that is something I think we can do."
Northern Arizona will return to the court on Saturday, Feb. 1 to take on Idaho in the Lumberjacks' third of four straight home games. Saturday's game will be played in the Rolle Activity Center with a tip-off slated for 2 p.m.
