FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 18, 2020) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team makes their way to Idaho and Eastern Washington this week with hopes of solidifying their position in the Big Sky's top five with three weeks remaining in the regular season. The Lumberjacks will face the Vandals at 7:30 p.m. MST on Thursday and the Eagles at 3 p.m. MST on Saturday.
Both of this week's games will be streamed on Pluto TV and can be heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network with the Voice of the Lumberjacks
Mitch Strohman on the call. Thursday's meeting with the Vandals will be on Pluto TV Channel 542 and Saturday's meeting with the Eagles will be on Pluto TV Channel 534.
Behind huge games by sophomore
Cameron Shelton (26 points, five rebounds, five assists) and senior
Brooks DeBisschop (career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds), the 'Jacks righted the ship last Saturday with an 82-69 victory over Southern Utah.
Despite only winning two of its last five games, NAU remains in control of its own destiny heading into its final full two-game road trip of the regular season. The Lumberjacks currently hold the fifth and final spot for a conference tournament bye with a 14-10 overall record and 8-7 league mark.
The 14 victories are the program's most since their 23-win 2014-15 season that ended as the CIT runner-up. NAU has also equaled its Big Sky win total from a season ago with five regular season games remaining.
Shelton, NAU's leading scorer at 14.2 points per game this season, is averaging 18.0 points per game in his last six games with three 20-point efforts. Over the last six games, Shelton is also shooting 84.1 percent at the charity stripe.
In the last 10 games, junior
Bernie Andre is averaging 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
NAU and Idaho will meet for the 65th time on Thursday. Shelton scored a career-high 29 points in a 77-72 victory against Idaho on Feb. 1 in the Rolle Activity Center.
Idaho leads the all-time series 42-22, although the Lumberjacks have won the last three meetings. With a win on Thursday, NAU would sweep the season series with Idaho in back-to-back years for the first time since 1985 and 1986.
Last season's 86-73 victory in Moscow snapped NAU's 13-game losing streak to Idaho on the Vandals' home court. The Lumberjacks are just 6-26 all-time in Moscow and have not posted consecutive wins on the road versus Idaho since 1985 and 1986.
NAU and Eastern Washington will meet for the 73rd time on Friday. The Eagles ended the Lumberjacks' five-game winning streak on Feb. 3, defeating the 'Jacks, 77-66, in the Walkup Skydome. DeBisschop tied a career-high with 20 points in the loss.
NAU leads the all-time series 37-35, but the Eagles have won five consecutive meetings as they will look for the season sweep of the 'Jacks for the third consecutive year.
The Lumberjacks have not posted a win in Cheney since Jan. 15, 2010 having lost the last eight meetings versus the Eagles on the road. All eight losses have been by double-figures.
