EAST LANSING, Mich. (November 7 2022) – Northern Arizona opened its regular season with a tough road defeat against the Michigan State Spartans, falling 73-55.
The Lumberjacks could not overcome a tough first half, but managed to put together a much better showing in the second half, however it wasn't enough as the team fell in their season opener 73-55.
In the program's first ever game in a Big 10 arena, the Lumberjacks struggled to find their footing early, scoring just five points in the opening 10 minutes. The cold start doomed NAU as they prevented Michigan State from scoring on five of their first six possessions.
The Spartans offense picked up, and propelled them on a 21-5 run in the opening ten minutes. The Lumberjacks responded quickly with an 11-3 run of their own, but still trailed at the half 34-20.
Junior Jalen Cone led the Lumberjacks with a double-double performance, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the first half, with no other Lumberjack recording more than three during the half. Cone's ten rebounds also led the team.
The Lumberjacks struggled to convert as a smothering Michigan State defense made it hard to convert in the paint. The Spartans recorded four of their six blocks during the first half, allowing just six points in the paint.
Despite a rough first half the effort was much more spread out in the second half. Sophomore Liam Lloyd was the only other Lumberjack to join Cone in double figures, scoring eight in the second half and shooting 40% from beyond the arc during the period.
Redshirt Senior Nik Mains and Redshirt Sophomore Carson Towt also found their groove in the second half after failing to score in the first, tallying six apiece. The final starter, Graduate Student Xavier Fuller, scored five of his seven points in the second half as well.
Across the board, the Lumberjacks looked much improved, increasing their shooting percentage by 12% and three point shooting percentage by 27%. Despite forcing fewer turnovers, NAU's transition offense was also a point of improvement in the latter half, scoring all of their points off turnovers in the second half.
Even with the improvements in the second half by the Lumberjacks, the Spartans still managed to outscore them, 39-35. The change in NAU's play still shines as a bright spot as the Lumberjacks next test against Arizona State looms large.
NAU will play the Sun Devils in Tempe on Thursday Nov. 10, before finishing their opening road trip in Orem, Utah against the Utah Valley Wolverines on Nov. 12.
