FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 20, 2020) – Beginning a stretch of five straight games away from Flagstaff and in the midst of a stretch of three games in four days, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team turns around quick for a Monday matinee with Texas State at 1 p.m. in Denver, Colo. The Lumberjacks will also play host Denver on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with both games at Denver's Hamilton Gymnasium.
Both games can be viewed at denverpioneers.com and heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network with the Voice of the Lumberjacks
Mitch Strohman on the call.
Despite sitting at 0-4 overall, the Lumberjacks head out on the road following a promising 80-64 loss to Eastern Washington on Saturday. NAU set season-bests in a number of offensive categories including points (64), field goal percentage (.373), three-pointers (7) and three-point percentage (.333).
"Obviously we're optimistic about it," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "No matter what happens, we're not going to be demoralized. We could be going into Christmas with a two-game winning streak and that's how we're looking at it. But we can only control Monday first. The big picture is to keep getting better for Idaho (on Dec. 31) . There's still 18 more conference games so there's a lot of basketball still to be played."
Junior
Cameron Shelton ranks fourth in the conference in scoring at 17.3 points per game through the first four games of the season. Shelton has scored in double-figures in all four games and is coming off a 23-point effort against the Eagles in NAU's Big Sky opener. Shelton also ranks second on the team in rebounding at 4.0 per game and has totaled a team-best six steals.
Redshirt junior
Luke Avdalovic narrowly missed reaching double-digit scoring for the fourth consecutive game with nine points versus Eastern Washington. His three three-pointers increased his career total to 135, placing him in a tie for 10th all-time in program history. Avdalovic is second on the team behind Shelton in scoring at 12.3 points per game and is shooting 43.5 percent behind the arc.
On Saturday, redshirt freshman
Jackson Larsen earned his first career start, becoming the third Lumberjack along with redshirt junior
Jay Green and redshirt freshman
Carson Towt to make their first career starts this season. Towt in particular has been productive, leading the team with 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and three blocks.
This week's games will be NAU's first against both Texas State and Denver in a while. NAU and Texas State will be meeting for the third time ever and the first time since 1994. The teams have split the all-time series 1-1 with each team recording a victory on their home court. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks will be facing Denver for the fourth time ever and the first since 2005. The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 2-1.
Texas State bested Denver on Saturday, 70-68, to post its second consecutive victory and move its record to 5-3 overall. Mason Harrell is Texas State's leading scorer at 14.1 points per game. He is shooting 42.9 percent behind the arc and also leads the team with 24 assists and 12 steals. Caleb Asberry is coming off a 28-point performance in the Bobcats' win over Denver and his 11.0 points per game ranks second on the team.
Since a season-opening victory against Regis on Nov. 28, Denver has dropped five straight putting the Pioneers' record at 1-5. Jase Towsend is tied for 25th nationally in scoring at 21.0 points per game while also averaging 5.3 boards. Robert Jones is shooting 55.1 percent from the field and ranks second behind Townsend in scoring at 11.0 per game.
To stay up to date with the NAU men's basketball team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
