FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 11, 2020) – Facing two teams ahead of them in the conference standings, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team hosts Northern Colorado on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Walkup Skydome to begin a crucial homestand with a month to play until the Big Sky Tournament in Boise, Idaho. On Saturday, NAU will take on Southern Utah at 4 p.m.
Thursday's meeting with the Bears 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 and Kade Gilliss on the call. Saturday's meeting with the Thunderbirds will also be streamed on Pluto TV Channel 539 with Strohman and Ryan Peretti on the call.
The Lumberjacks currently hold the fifth spot in the Big Sky standings with four weeks remaining in the regular season after splitting their road trip at Idaho State and Weber State last week. NAU is 13-9 overall and 7-6 in conference play, and enters the week one win ahead of three teams for the fifth and final bye in the conference tournament.
This week's homestand versus Northern Colorado and Southern Utah on Saturday is critical for NAU with both teams directly ahead of the 'Jacks in the standings. Last month, the Lumberjacks went on the road to both the Bears and Thunderbirds and picked up a pair of wins which jump started a five-game winning streak.
Sophomore
Cameron Shelton leads the Lumberjacks with 14.1 points and ranks second with 6.3 rebounds per game. He is one of five Lumberjack starters averaging 9.0 points per game or more.
Senior
Brooks DeBisschop is second on the team with 11.9 points per game, including a team-high 14.3 points per game in conference play. DeBisschop is third in the conference with 7.7 rebounds per game.
NAU and Northern Colorado will meet for the 33rd time on Thursday. NAU rallied for a 64-58 victory against Northern Colorado on Jan. 18 in Greeley. NAU held Northern Colorado to just four points in the last six minutes of the game as the Lumberjacks overcame a 10-point deficit and closed on a 20-4 run.
Northern Colorado leads the all-time series 19-13 although the Lumberjacks have won the last two meetings going back to last season.
The 'Jacks are 8-5 all-time versus the Bears at home compared to 5-14 against Northern Colorado away from Flagstaff.
NAU and Southern Utah will meet for the 37th time on Saturday. The Lumberjacks erased a nine-point halftime deficit and won a nail biter, 75-72, against the Thunderbirds on Jan. 16 on the road. NAU outscored Southern Utah by 11 points off turnovers to offset the Thunderbirds shooting 54.3 percent for the game.
NAU leads the all-time series 20-16 and the 'Jacks snapped a six-game skid to the Thunderbirds with last month's victory.
Although NAU is 13-6 all-time versus Southern Utah at home, the Thunderbirds have won three of the last four meetings in Flagstaff.
Fans can purchase 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.
