OGDEN, Utah (February 8, 2020) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team forged a furious late rally, but a slow start to the second half proved too much to overcome in a 76-70 loss to Weber State on Saturday in the Dee Events Center. Junior
Bernie Andre recorded a career-high 24 points in the loss as NAU fell to 13-9 overall and 7-6 in conference play.
"We cannot put ourselves in this situation," said interim head coach
Shane Burcar. "I didn't like our shot selection and we could've shared the ball a little better and that's a direct reflection of 24 (first half) points. With our ability and skill that can't happen. We were chasing in the second half and credit to our guys, they didn't given in and that's not who we are."
Andre tied Weber State's Jerrick Harding for game-high honors with 24 points in his second consecutive 20-point outing. Andre shot 10-for-13 from the field and tied a career-high with four three-pointers on seven attempts. He also recorded nine rebounds.
Sophomore
Cameron Shelton came up one rebound and one assist shy of NAU's second all-time triple-double with 13 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists to go with three steals and two blocks. Senior
Brooks DeBisschop also chipped in 13 points along with seven boards and two blocks.
After NAU shot 31 percent in the first half, the Lumberjacks' offense picked up in the second half as they shot 51.6 percent. Facing their largest deficit of the game, 50-31 with 11:51 remaining, the 'Jacks made 13 of their final 22 field goal attempts (59.1 percent) in a near-comeback effort.
Weber State shot 48.3 percent for the game and held off NAU by shooting 57.7 percent after halftime. The Wildcats held the slight rebounding advantage, 34-33, and were plus-eight (36-28) in points in the paint.
Andre scored the first two baskets of the game as NAU got out to a 5-0 lead as Weber State misfired on its first six attempts from the deck. The Wildcats quickly found their footing and made their next five shots as they moved ahead 10-9 with 14:14 left in the first half, and they led the remainder of the game.
A three by sophomore
Luke Avdalovic brought NAU within 16-14 five minutes later, but Weber State proceeded to go on a 14-5 run to stretch its advantage out to 30-19 with 2:11 remaining before the half. The 'Jacks scored the final five points of the half to eventually go into the locker room trailing 30-24.
While the Lumberjacks were within striking range to start the second half, the Wildcats opened the second half with a 7-0 run. The 'Jacks trimmed the deficit to nine at the 14:29 mark before the Wildcats erupted for a 10-0 surge that put the Lumberjacks in the 19-point hole at 50-31.
NAU made a series of runs to close the gap, first getting to 57-49 with seven minutes to play following a Shelton three-pointer. The Lumberjacks hung around for the next six minutes until junior
Cameron Satterwhite cut the eight-point deficit in half with a four-point play. Satterwhite connected on a deep three and was fouled with his ensuing free throw slicing the Weber State lead to just 69-65 with 55.7 seconds remaining.
The Lumberjacks got within four twice more, the last with 8.5 seconds after an Avdalovic triple in transition made it 74-70. Unfortunately, Weber State made 7-of-8 at the free throw line in the final minute to help the Wildcats avenge a 72-64 loss to the 'Jacks in Flagstaff last month.
NAU returns to the Walkup Skydome next week for a pair of critical home games against Northern Colorado and Southern Utah. Both opponents are directly ahead of the Lumberjacks in the conference standings.
NAU and Northern Colorado will tip-off next Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Skydome to begin the homestand.
