Lumberjacks Set for Leon Black Classic

Northern Arizona Men's Basketball
 

GAME 6	Northern Arizona vs. No. 11 Texas (Monday, Nov. 21 | 6:30 p.m.)
	Video | Live Stats | Game Notes
LOCATION	Bert Ogden Arena | Edinburg, Texas
TV	Longhorn Network (ESPN+)
GAME 5	Northern Arizona vs. UTRGV (Tuesday, Nov. 22 | 5:30 p.m.)
	Video | Live Stats | Game Notes
LOCATION	Bert Ogden Arena | Edinburg, Texas
TV	ESPN+

After a successful pair of games at home, the Northern Arizona University men's basketball team is headed to Edinburg, Texas, for the Leon Black Classic on Nov. 21-22. The tournament is co-hosted by UTRGV and Texas at Bert Ogden Arena.
 
The Lumberjacks take on No. 11 Texas on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time and wrap up tournament play on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against UTRGV. Both games will be on ESPN+.
 
Texas, who currently sits at 3-0 overall, will be the third Power 5 foe that the 2-3 Lumberjacks have faced this season. The Gauchos, out of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) are 2-2.
 
Northern Arizona picked up its first win of the season against Benedictine Mesa on Nov. 15 by a score of 105-49, featuring six players in double figures. On Nov. 18, NAU topped previously undefeated UC Santa Barbara, 63-54, to close out the homestand.
 
Two players average double figures for NAU in Jalen Cone (12.4) and Liam Lloyd (11.8), ranking 15^th and 17^th in the Big Sky Conference, respectively. Lloyd has scored in double figures in every contest this year. Carson Towt leads the Lumberjacks with 10.8 rebounds per game, already collecting two double figure rebounding games this season.
 
True freshman Oakland Fort paces NAU with 3.2 assists per game. He has led the Lumberjacks in assists in two-straight games, with a career-high seven against Benedictine Mesa. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 is currently second in the conference.
 
NAU has outscored every opponent this season in the second half, outscoring opponents 204-to-167 (+37) in the second half of play. The Lumberjacks are second in the Big Sky with 72.0 points per game, allowing opponents to score 66.6, holding opponents to 41.6 percent from the field while shooting at a 41.2 percent clip themselves.
 
The Lumberjacks have at least six three-pointers in every game, including double-digit triples in two, averaging 8.8 three's a game. They are also fourth in rebounds with 38.2 per contest.
 
Texas is coming off a 93-74 win over No. 2 Gonzaga on Wednesday night. The Longhorns have four averaging double figures, led by Tyrese Hunter with 18.0 points per game. Texas is averaging 82.3 points per game and holding opponents to just 54, outscoring foes by an average of 28.3 points per game. They also average 4.3 blocks per game, with Dillion Mitchell already collected five on the year. Mitchell also averages 8.3 rebounds per game, helping the team average 38.0 and hold opponents to 33.3 boards per contest.
 
This is the first-ever meeting between the Lumberjacks and Longhorns. NAU is 8-40 all-time against current teams from the Big 12 Conference, with all eight wins coming over Texas Tech from 1934 to 2013. The last win over the Red Raiders came in 1949. The Lumberjacks last played a ranked opponents in No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 28, 2020, falling 88-58.
 
The Vaqueros also boast four players who average double figures, led by Justin Johnson with 13.8 points per game. UTRGV averages 81.5 points per game, and it gives up 68.5. The Vaqueros are a hot-shooting team, making 51.4 percent (114-222) of their shots from the field and holding opponents to just 37.2 points per game. They also average 4.5 blocks, 18.5 turnovers, and 42.2 rebounds per game.
 
Northern Arizona leads the all-time series with UTRGV, 5-2. In Edinburg, the 'Jacks are a perfect 3-0. Last season, the two faced off twice within a three-day span and both games were decided by two points. The Lumberjacks beat the Vaqueros on the road, 89-87. Two days later, they suffered an 82-80 loss at home in Flagstaff. Cone scored over 20 points in both contests. Nik Mains added 20 points and eight rebounds in the win and 17 points in the loss.
 
After Thanksgiving, the Lumberjacks reconvene at home for a pair of games. First facing Abilene Christian on Nov. 27 at 1 p.m., and then hosting Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.