Lumberjacks’ Offensive Woes Overshadow Defensive Performance in Loss to Montana

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 22, 2022) – On one hand, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team's defense kept Montana down. On the other, the Lumberjacks struggled to find offensive consistency. Added up, the Grizzlies (13-6, 6-2 Big Sky) managed to win a low-scoring affair, 58-48, in the Walkup Skydome over the Lumberjacks (6-11, 2-4 Big Sky).
 
"We played consistent on the defensive side of the floor and our effort was good all the way around," said head coach Shane Burcar. "At the end of the day, it comes down to we didn't score the ball. Throughout the game we had chances, but I liked the fight through our guys today."
 
Although Montana shot only 40.7 percent in claiming victory, NAU shot 35.3 percent, its third-lowest clip of the season. The Lumberjacks, who outrebounded the Grizzlies by a 36-30 margin, shot a season-low 21.7 percent behind the arc.
 
Led by redshirt junior Nik Mains' seven rebounds, all five of NAU's starters grabbed at least five rebounds. Sophomore Jalen Cone, who scored a team-high 12 points, tied for the team-lead with four assists matched by redshirt freshman Carson Towt.
 
After Cone got the scoring underway with a triple, Montana scored the next six points for Saturday's lone lead change. Later in the first half, NAU endured a scoring drought of more than seven minutes during which Montana went on a 12-0 run to open up a 23-9 advantage with 7:05 left in the period.
 
The 'Jacks found their offensive footing momentarily following the drought, using their largest run of the game (10-0) to climb back within four on the second of two Mains three-pointers during the surge. However, the 23-19 deficit with 1:48 remaining on the first half clock was the closest the Lumberjacks would get in the final 22 minutes of the contest.
 
NAU ultimately went into halftime trailing 29-21 and fell behind by as much as 16 seven minutes into the second half. The Lumberjacks did have one final push in them though, cutting a 13-point deficit to 51-45 with three minutes left courtesy of a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Cone.
 
The Lumberjacks' momentum was short-lived as the Grizzlies answered with a 7-0 run of their own to extend their advantage back out to 13. Following Cone's three, NAU managed just one field goal in the last three minutes.
 
"If we make shots, Montana needs to make an adjustment with their defense and they didn't have to," Burcar said. "Overall, it's disappointing to lose a home game and we have to prepare for Sacramento State on Monday night."
 
Behind Cone's 12, junior Mason Stark scored nine points on an efficient 4-for-7 showing in his first start since New Year's Day. Mains and redshirt sophomore Keith Haymon both chipped in eight points.
 
The Lumberjacks' extended homestand resumes on Monday at 6 p.m. versus Sacramento State in the Skydome. The game is a rescheduling from the original Jan. 10 contest that was postponed.
 
NAU Athletics is offering 50 percent off general admission tickets to Monday's game due to the rescheduling with tickets available at this link.
 
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