Lumberjack Men’s Basketball Battles Idaho State in Narrow 70-66 Loss

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 24, 2022) – After a fast start, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team went into a lull and it proved to be a decisive one as Idaho State erased a 13-point deficit en route to a 70-66 victory in the Walkup Skydome on Thursday. The Lumberjacks nearly overcame a 12-point deficit themselves before falling short, with their season ledger dropping to 9-19 and 5-12 in conference.
 
"I thought our guys battled throughout the game and unfortunately we went through a long scoring drought," said head coach Shane Burcar. "We got out 15-3 and before you know it, it's 15-15. The only thing we know here at NAU is to keep pushing. The results are not what we want, but our locker room is healthy. We're thinking about getting better every day and preparing ourselves for the best seed we can get."
 
NAU jumped on Idaho State (7-20, 5-13 Big Sky) immediately from the jump, scoring the first 13 points with the last nine coming via threes – one by sophomore Jalen Cone and two by redshirt junior Nik Mains. Overall, NAU hit six of its first seven shots from the field in building a 15-3 advantage a little more than four minutes into the game.
 
After the hot start though, NAU missed 12 of its next 14 shots, including 11 straight at one point, as the Lumberjacks went nearly seven and a half minutes without scoring. During this stretch, Idaho State flipped the script and an 18-0 run – tied for the largest opponent run of the season – turned a 19-11 deficit following a layup by redshirt sophomore Ezekiel Richards into a 29-19 lead with 3:44 left before halftime.
 
A Cone and-1 finally halted the Bengals' run, but it was Idaho State who took a 34-24 lead into halftime – a stark contrast to NAU's game-opening 13-0 surge.
 
While the Lumberjacks struggled to put the ball in the basket, they also struggled to keep possession as 11 first half turnovers hampered them, especially considering the Bengals outscored them 9-0 in points off miscues.
 
NAU, like it has so many times this season, flipped the script after halftime though, shooting 54.8 percent from the field and committing just five turnovers to mount a comeback.
 
The Lumberjacks immediately sliced the deficit in half with a bucket by Cone and a three by redshirt sophomore Keith Haymon out of the gates. A 6-0 run a few minutes later brought NAU within 40-37 with 14:17 remaining. After the Bengals reopened their lead to as much as seven twice, the 'Jacks kept it close pulling within three times including with 5:52 remaining when a Cone jumper made it a 54-51 game.
 
Idaho State responded with a crucial 6-0 run that once again reopened its advantage, this time to 60-51, with 4:15 left. However, NAU refused to go quietly with a 10-4 run capped by a layup from redshirt freshman Carson Towt cutting the Idaho State lead down to 64-61 with 30 seconds left.
 
Unfortunately for NAU, Idaho State went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line following Towt's bucket. A final three by Cone with 6.6 seconds remaining made it a 68-66 game, but Austin Smellie knocked down the game's final points at the line after NAU was unable to force a turnover.
 
"If we value the ball with our shot-making ability – if we get six more shots tonight – we have a better chance of scoring the ball," Burcar said. "Our guys are taking the individual responsibility and we know what we have to fix. Our young men are taking that responsibility and I'm doing the same thing. We're all in this together and we're going to keep pushing."
 
Even after their struggles in the first half, NAU still wound up shooting 48.2 percent from the floor – its best field goal percentage since Jan. 29 – compared to 38.3 percent by Idaho State. The Bengals did, however, make 11 threes to the Lumberjacks' eight, and made 13 free throws while the 'Jacks shot just five total.
 
NAU was also -11 in the turnover column, which offset a +7 (38-31) rebounding margin.
 
Cone led all scorers with 26 points – his 12th 20-point game of the season – on an efficient 10-for-15 shooting performance. Mains drilled 5-of-10 from behind the arc, accounting for all 15 of his points, while Richards finished with eight points. Towt scored six points and led NAU with 11 rebounds and six assists.
 
The Lumberjacks will conclude their home slate on Saturday versus Weber State at 2 p.m. in the Skydome. Prior to the game, Jay Green will be honored as part of the Senior Day recognition.
 
Saturday's game will also be a Gold Out with all fans encouraged to wear gold. The first 500 fans will receive a free gold t-shirt upon entrance.

To stay up to date with the NAU men's basketball team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.