OGDEN, Utah (February 18, 2021) – Facing one of the nation's most prolific offensive teams, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team fell 92-59 to Weber State in their return to the court Thursday night in the Dee Event Center. The game marked NAU's first contest in 20 days as a result of COVID-19 protocols, as the Lumberjacks dropped to 5-12 overall and 4-7 in Big Sky play.
"Weber State shot the ball extremely well tonight and we were in it for about 10 minutes before it got away from us," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "They're one of the best teams we've seen so far and they sure put it on us tonight."
Weber State (13-5, 8-3 Big Sky) came into the night seventh in the country in scoring at 83.9 points per game, and the Wildcats flexed their offensive muscle. Also ranked second in the country in three-point percentage (.403) and ninth in field goal percentage (.506), Weber State shot 56.1 percent overall and hit 18-of-36 threes.
The Wildcats' 18 three-point makes were the most by a Lumberjack opponent since Montana State rained in 25 against NAU on Feb. 11, 2016.
As wide as the final margin was, NAU hung with Weber State through the first 14 minutes of the game. After Weber State scored the first five points of the game, NAU settled into the contest with sophomore
Isaiah Lewis knocking down a transition three to bring NAU within one, 14-13, at the 11:15 mark in the first half.
Weber State extended its lead back out to 22-15, only for redshirt freshman
Keith Haymon to respond with a three followed by a corner jumper to once again close the gap with six minutes remaining before the half.
However, the Wildcats took control of the game from that point, scoring the next eight points during a 15-2 overall run that turned a one-possession game into a 37-22 lead. The Wildcats' halftime advantage wound up at 44-28 with Isiah Brown scoring 20 of his game-high 31 points in the first half.
The start of the second half did not go any better for NAU, as Weber State opened with an 8-0 run that was halted by an and-1 by redshirt freshman
Carson Towt. The Wildcats continued to drill threes in the second half, knocking down 11-of-22 behind the arc after halftime while maintain a lead of at least 21 points for the final 13 minutes of the game.
NAU, which had its five previous games canceled, had not played since Jan. 29 prior to Thursday night's game. In the Lumberjacks' return, they shot 37.7 percent from the deck and struggled with turnovers registering 15. NAU entered the game averaging just 10 miscues per game in conference play, the fewest in the Big Sky.
"I'll take all the blame; it's on me," Burcar said. "We absolutely have to get better. I won't believe that this is the type of team we have. We'll have to make some adjustments for Saturday, or simply get better at what we want to do.
Junior
Cameron Shelton logged his 12th 20-point game of the season, finishing the night with 21 points – 14 coming in the second half. Shelton also recorded team-highs of seven rebounds and four assists.
Redshirt junior
Luke Avdalovic hit all three of his triples in the second half and reached double-figures with 12. Haymon ended the night just shy of double-digits with nine points, although all nine came in the first half.
The Lumberjacks and Wildcats will tangle again on Saturday in Ogden at 12 p.m.
To stay up to date with the NAU men's basketball team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
