Mains Sets New Career-High in 92-62 Loss to Southern Utah

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 26, 2021) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team dropped their regular season finale, 92-62, to Southern Utah Friday night in the Rolle Activity Center. The Lumberjacks conclude the regular season with a 5-15 and 4-10 in the league.
 
"It was a disappointing end to our regular season," said head coach Shane Burcar. "But you have to keep in mind the struggles that you go through before you have success. These are the type of nights you remember when you build a program. The guys played pretty hard, but the results weren't there. By the time we hit the floor for our next practice, we'll have the mindset of going to Boise, winning our first game and seeing what happens."
 
Despite Southern Utah shooting 64 percent from the field in the first half, NAU went into halftime trailing just 42-32 behind 13 of redshirt junior Nik Mains' career-high 19 points. However, NAU shot just 34.8 percent after the intermission as the Thunderbirds pulled away with a 50-point second half.
 
Mains was 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 behind the arc in setting a new career-high for the second consecutive game. Redshirt junior Luke Avdalovic scored 11 points, while moving into sole possession of sixth-place all-time in program history in career three-pointers – draining two on the evening.
 
Southern Utah, who won its seventh straight game to improve to 17-3 overall and 10-2 in Big Sky play, was effective and efficient offensively, shooting 56.1 percent from the field and hitting 11 three-pointers. Meanwhile, NAU shot just 40 percent overall and was outrebounded 37-22.
 
The Thunderbirds forced a quick NAU timeout just two and a half minutes into the game following an 11-2 run and led 23-9 at the 11:33 mark before the Lumberjacks settled in. Redshirt sophomore Keith Haymon keyed a 16-4 run with a three, and freshman Carter Mahaney capped the surge with a jumper which pulled NAU within 27-25 with 6:35 left in the first half.
 
Southern Utah would take a 42-32 advantage into the locker room and the lead ballooned up to 53-33 less than four minutes into the second half. Yet once again, NAU regrouped with four threes in the next five minutes, the last of which cut the Southern Utah lead to 60-49 on an Avdalovic trey with 11 minutes left.
 
NAU could not get any closer as Southern Utah shut the door on a comeback bid with a massive 18-2 run over the next five minutes. The Thunderbirds led by as much as 31 in the second half.
 
Junior Cameron Shelton was limited to just seven points – his lowest output of the season – but did snag a team-high six boards. Avdalovic totaled a season-high four assists, while redshirt freshman Carson Towt matched a season-best with two blocks.
 
NAU will look to regroup and prepare for the Big Sky tournament. The first round in Boise, Idaho will begin Wednesday, March 10.
 
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