NAU Men’s Basketball Falls on Senior Day to Weber State

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 26, 2022) – Weber State got out to an 11-2 run and led throughout the entirety of Saturday's home finale in the Walkup Skydome as the Northern Arizona men's basketball team suffered a 73-49 loss to the Wildcats. The Lumberjacks (9-20, 5-13 Big Sky) shot just 38.8 percent for the game, while the Wildcats (20-10, 13-6 Big Sky) shot 55.6 percent.
 
"Weber State has guys who are shot makers," said head coach Shane Burcar. "They have five guys who average double-digits, or close to double-digits, and they're a really good basketball team. They are one of the frontrunners in the league. They move the ball and they simply don't turn the ball over either. Weber State does not beat Weber State, they beat the other team."
 
Despite the Wildcats shooting 52.4 percent from the floor in the first half, the Lumberjacks entered halftime within striking range, down 35-27. However, a second-half opening bucket by redshirt junior Jay Green that made it a six-point game was the closest NAU would get in the final 20 minutes. Weber State outscored NAU 23-6 in the first 10 and a half minutes to pull away.
 
Green, who was the lone Lumberjack player honored pregame as part of the Senior Day festivities, earned his second start of the season and scored six points and added a pair of assists.
 
"Jay Green is a winner," Burcar said. "He embodies a student-athlete. He plays hard no matter what and I was happy we were able to recognize him."
 
Redshirt junior Nik Mains was the team's leading scorer, and only player to score in double-figures, with 11 points. He shot 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-5 behind the arc. Mains grabbed five boards, which tied him for the team-lead with sophomore Ajang Aguek. Aguek provided a spark off the bench tying a season-high with nine points in addition to his five rebounds.
 
Koby McEwen led all scorers with 20 points and was one of six Wildcats to score at least eight points. Dillon Jones, the seventh-leading rebounder in the country, tallied his 16th double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
 
After spotting Weber State with that nine-point advantage, NAU battled back and got within three, 16-13, following a Mains triple. Immediately after though, the Wildcats went on an 11-0 run to push their lead out to 27-13 – their largest of the first half – with seven minutes left before the half.
 
NAU responded with its best stretch of the game though as sophomore Jalen Cone started a 14-1 run with a three. Redshirt freshman Carson Towt followed with a layup and freshman Wynton Brown and Mains connected on consecutive threes to force a Weber State timeout with the visitors' advantage down to 27-24.
 
The Wildcats momentarily stopped the Lumberjacks' 11-0 run at the line, splitting 1-of-2, before Mains hit another three to pull NAU to 28-27 with 3:35 remaining in the first half. Unfortunately, Weber State ended the half with the final seven points and one of the league's favorites were never seriously threatened again.
 
The 'Jacks outscored the Wildcats, 12-8, on points off turnovers and 21-10 in bench points. However, Weber State held a sizeable +10 scoring advantage at the line converting 14-of-18. In contrast, NAU shot just 4-of-12 at the free throw line.
 
NAU will head out on the road for its final two regular season games. The road trip begins next Thursday at Eastern Washington at 7 p.m. MST and concludes at Idaho next Saturday with a 3 p.m. MST tip-off.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU men's basketball team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.