FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 23, 2021) – Coming off a narrow loss on Monday, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team looks to bounce back on Wednesday, hosting Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center. The Lumberjacks' final game before the start of conference play will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Lumberjack Radio Network.
NAU (3-3) fell to UTRGV, 82-80, on Monday, a loss which snapped the Lumberjacks' three-game winning streak. Although the Lumberjacks reached 80 points for the second consecutive game, and third time this season, they also surrendered 52.7 percent shooting to the Vaqueros. In back-to-back games versus UTRGV, NAU allowed an opponent field goal percentage of 53.8 percent.
Prior to this recent two-game stretch, NAU opponents were only shooting 37.7 percent. The Lumberjacks have also allowed 84.5 points per game in their last two after allowing only 66.5 points in their first four games.
Still, NAU's offense has put up points, scoring 80 or more points in consecutive games for the first time in two years since putting up 105 and 93 in wins against SAGU American Indian College and Benedictine Mesa in November 2019. When looking at the last time NAU scored 80 or more in consecutive games versus Division I opponents, it goes back to Jan. 28 and Feb. 2, 2019 versus Southern Utah and Idaho.
Sophomore
Jalen Cone reset his career-high for the second consecutive game, netting 29 points versus UTRGV on Monday. His season average is up to 17.0, which ranks sixth in the Big Sky. Cone also ranks 22nd in the country in total points with 102. He is doing more than putting the ball in the basket though as Cone ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 4.2 assists per game.
Redshirt junior
Nik Mains and redshirt sophomore
Keith Haymon both recorded double-digit scoring efforts as well on Monday with Mains scoring 17 and Haymon 15. Both players, along with Cone, hit four threes as the trio combined for 12 of NAU's 13 three-pointers on the night. Mains is second on the team in scoring behind Cone with 13.5 points per game, while Haymon is averaging 10.0.
Redshirt freshman
Carson Towt is coming off a season-low three points, but he still found ways to impact the game. leading NAU with nine points and five assists, one shy of his career-high set last week versus CSU Bakersfield. For the season, Towt is averaging 9.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He ranks 28th nationally with 9.8 rebounds per game, while his 59 total rebounds is eighth-most in the country.
The Lumberjacks and Titans will be meeting for the first time since Cal State Fullerton won, 82-67, in Fullerton on Dec. 6, 2003. In fact, NAU played a home-and-home with Cal State Fullerton that season – much like the 'Jacks just did with UTRGV – with NAU winning at home, 77-60, to open the 2003-04 season. Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series 5-4, although NAU is 3-1 all-time in Flagstaff.
Cal State Fullerton (2-2) plays UTRGV Tuesday night in the Rolle Activity Center prior to Wednesday's game versus NAU as part of the Lumberjacks' multi-team event (MTE). After opening the season with losses to Santa Clara and San Jose State, the Titans have won two straight against George Washington and most recently San Diego last Friday by a 57-55 score.
The Titans, who were picked seventh in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll and eighth in the Media Poll, are led by E.J. Anosike, the reigning conference Player of the Week. The Tennessee transfer in his first season at Cal State Fullerton is averaging team-highs of 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and ranks second in the country in offensive rebounds per game with 5.5. Tray Maddox Jr. was a preseason all-conference selection by the media and the coaches and is averaging 8.5 points per game.
All fans in attendance on Wednesday will be entered into a raffle to win a bluetooth boombox.
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