Northern Arizona Comes Up Short to Utah Valley

OREM, Utah (November 12, 2022) - Playing in its third road game in five days, the Northern Arizona University men's basketball team came up just short at Utah Valley this afternoon by a final score of 73-69 at the ECCU Center.
 
For the third time this season, the Lumberjacks outscored their opponent in the second half and bettered their shooting percentage but couldn't overcome an early deficit. Following the loss, NAU drops to 0-3 on the young season while Utah Valley improves to 2-1.
 
Three Lumberjacks scored in double figures, with Liam Lloyd posting a season-high 14 points. Jack Wistrcill, a true freshman who hadn't scored until this afternoon, scored a career-high 14 points on 5-of-9 from the field and added six rebounds. Oakland Fort, another true freshman, added 12. Carson Towt stuffed the stat sheet with a career-high 19 rebounds, adding five assists, three steals, a block, and six points.
 
Utah Valley opened an early 15-2 lead over NAU and held its largest lead of 15 points (43-28) with three minutes remaining in the first half. Northern Arizona shot just 35.5 percent from the field in the first half compared to 57.7 percent for the Wolverines and headed to the locker room down 43-31.
 
The Lumberjacks regrouped and started to find some momentum, starting the second half with two quick baskets from Nik Mains and Lloyd. Trailing 50-35, consecutive three-pointers from Lloyd and Jalen Cone, followed by a jumper from Towt for an 8-0 run, quickly put NAU within striking distance, 50-43. Another 8-0 run by the Lumberjacks put them even closer, erasing the deficit and coming within one point, 52-51, with 10:42 remaining.
 
The teams moved into a 54-54 tie with 8:53 left to play. The Lumberjacks kept it close from there as a jumper by Fort put NAU within three points, 59-56. Two quick triples then put UVU back up 68-58. A three-pointer by Fort trimmed the deficit to 71-65, and Wistrcill hit a layup then two free throws for a 4-0 run of his own to make it a 72-69 contest with two seconds left to play. With no time on the clock, Utah Valley made a free throw to officially put the game out of reach for the Lumberjacks, winning 73-69.
 
NAU crashed the boards and out-rebounded the Wolverines 41-to-34. They also had 27 second chance points compared to only five for UVU. The Northern Arizona bench added 32 points and UVU had the slight edge in the paint, 22-for-18. Northern Arizona was blocked nine times, and committed 10 turnovers to Utah Valley's 11, scoring nine off them compared to 15 for UVU.
 
Both teams were comparable behind the arc, with NAU making 11-of-28 (39%) and the Wolverines draining 10-of-23 (43%). Overall, the Lumberjacks shot 37 percent from the field (25-67) compared to 48 percent for UVU (25-52). At the free throw line, Northern Arizona made 8-of-10 and the Wolverines made 13-of-20.
 
The Lumberjacks finally get some home cooking with two-straight games at home next week. Northern Arizona's home opener is set for Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center against Benedictine Mesa. On Friday, Nov. 18, NAU welcomes UC Santa Barbara to town at 6 p.m., also in Rolle. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Lumberjack Sports Network.