FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 21, 2023) – The Northern Arizona University men's basketball team fell in another close Big Sky Conference battle this afternoon at Findlay Toyota Court in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Lumberjacks hosted Eastern Washington and lost 79-76.
The loss was the fourth-straight for NAU that was decided by five points or less, as the Lumberjacks fall to 5-16 and 1-7 in Big Sky play. The Eagles improve to 14-7 overall and an unblemished 8-0 in conference action, winning their 10
th-straight overall and their 11
th-straight over Northern Arizona.
Jalen Cone led the way with 25 points, going 7-of-15 from three-point range to crack NAU's all-time three-pointers made list with 149 career triples.
Xavier Fuller followed with 23 points, and
Carson Towt finished with 12 rebounds, seven points and four assists.
The Lumberjacks were 14-of-31 from three-point range compared to 11-of-33 for EWU. Northern Arizona shot 38.1 percent from the field while Eastern Washington shot 42.9 percent.
The contest was closely contested with 13 lead changes and 13 ties. The Lumberjacks led for 17:56 of the game while EWU held the lead for 14:31. At the half, Northern Arizona held a 39-38 lead after trailing by as many as nine points. With 13:37 left in the second half, the Lumberjacks pulled away by six for their largest lead of the contest. With 2:45 left to play, NAU led by five, but EWU's Angelo Allegri was fouled making a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to take a 75-74 lead. The Eagles held on to the lead the rest of the way for the 79-76 victory.
"It was a hard-fought game by our guys. We played hard for 40 minutes and it's heartbreak hotel when you have a five-point lead with two and some change left, but the best player in the conference hit a three-pointer and then we fouled on a three-point attempt. We got to the free throw line to take the lead with under 10 seconds, and had an opportunity to hit a floater, but we didn't make it. As I always say, nobody tries to miss a shot. But at the same time, if you're going to win games then you have to make those plays. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that today."
The Eagles used a 13-0 run in the first half to lead 25-16. After NAU trimmed the lead down to 26-24 following an 8-1 run, the Lumberjacks were able to pull ahead after Fuller made two free throws to lead 29-28. It was back-and-forth from there as the game moved into a 32-32 tie. A Cone triple put NAU ahead 39-34 before the Eagles closed in as Allegri hit a three-pointer to make it a 39-38 game at the half in favor of the Lumberjacks.
In the second half, NAU led by as many as six in the early goings after a Cone three-pointer. With six minutes left to play, both teams were locked in 66-66. NAU used an 8-0 run to lead 74-69 with 2:45 to go. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run of their own to pull ahead 75-74 and led for the rest of the way in the 79-76 victory.
Northern Arizona sticks around Flagstaff to close the first half of Big Sky play against Northern Colorado in its lone game next week. The Lumberjacks host the Bears on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. MST.
