FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 9, 2021) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team resumes their non-conference schedule in Vermillion, S.D. on Saturday versus South Dakota with tip-off set for 2:30 p.m. MST from Sanford Coyote Sports Center. In addition to the call on the Lumberjack Radio Network, a video stream of the game can be found on
goyotes.com/watch.
The Lumberjacks and the Coyotes have become familiar foes over the last few years with Saturday's meeting being the fourth between the two teams in five seasons. South Dakota, which leads the all-time series 3-2, has won two of the last three meetings. However, NAU claimed the most recent matchup in 2019 at home, 76-72.
NAU picks back up after splitting the first weekend of Big Sky action last week on the road. After a 67-44 loss to Weber State, the Lumberjacks (4-5, 1-1 Big Sky) earned a hard-fought 73-70 victory over Idaho State to snap a three-game losing streak.
"To win on the road in the Big Sky, all 11 head coaches will tell you it's a heck of a deal to do," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "All of the hard work has been paying off and it obviously builds some confidence. The guys are sticking together and believing in what's going on here."
After seeing his six-game double-digit scoring streak end last Thursday in Ogden, sophomore
Jalen Cone erupted for 24 points, 20 coming in the second half, to lead the 'Jacks to their first Big Sky victory of the season. Cone shot a season-best 7-of-14 from the field and 5-of-9 from three in his third 20-point effort as a Lumberjack. He ranks seventh in the Big Sky in scoring at 15.7 points per game in addition to 10th in assists at 3.3 per contest.
The Lumberjacks, ranked 98th in the country with 38.3 rebounds per game and 54th with 28.3 boards on the defensive end, was +22 on the glass last week in their goals. Redshirt freshman
Carson Towt, who ranks 42nd in the country with 9.1 rebounds per game, was aided in NAU's rebounding efforts by Cone (8.0) and redshirt sophomore
Ezekiel Richards (6.5) on the glass last week.
Rebounding has been big for the 'Jacks this season, as has been their ability to get to the free throw line. NAU ranks 42nd nationally in free throws made (140) and 43rd in in free throws attempted (195). According to kenpom.com, the Lumberjacks are also ninth in the country in free throw rate in Division I games at 42.8 percent.
Richards, junior
Mason Stark and Cone all rank in the top 11 of the league in free throw shooting. Richards is tied for third at 91.3 percent (21-of-23), Stark is sixth at 89.5 percent (17-of-19) and Cone is tied for 11th at 85 percent (34-of-40). Stark iced the Idaho State victory by making five free throws in the final minute as part of an overall 17-point effort, including a 9-for-10 performance at the line, in his first start as a Lumberjack.
South Dakota is a similar team in that regard in which the Coyotes are top 75 in both free throws made (130) and attempted (188) and 19th in free throw rate (39.9).
The Coyotes fell to fellow Big Sky opponent Northern Colorado, 74-69, Tuesday night on the road in their most recent game. It was the Coyotes' third loss in their last four games – with all three on the road – as South Dakota sits at 5-4 this season. The Coyotes, selected fourth in the preseason Summitt League Poll, are unbeaten at home this season at 4-0 compared to 1-4 away from the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt leads the Coyotes in scoring (13.6), assists (2.3) and three-point makes (17). Behind the arc, Perrott-Hunt is shooting 37.8 percent. Xavier Fuller, an All-Summit League honorable mention last season, is averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Fuller, an in-state product out of Mesa, played his high school ball at Mesa High School where he was coached by Burcar.
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