FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 4, 2023) – NAU Men's Basketball is headed to Storrs, Conn. to take on the defending national champion UCONN Huskies for the first time in program history.
The game will tip-off at 4:30 p.m. MST and can be watched through the Fox Sports App, while live stats can be found here. Fans travelling to Connecticut can purchase tickets here.
NAU is on the lookout for the first opening night victory in the
Shane Burcar era, one that would mark just the third season opener win in the last ten seasons. NAU picked up a 74-63 win against UTSA in 2013 to open the season, and a 97-82 win against Jacksonville in Flagstaff in 2018. As NAU takes on the No. 6 Huskies, the game will mark the Jacks highest ranked opponent since taking on No. 4 Texas last season, and the highest ranked opponent in a season since No. 3 Arizona in 2017.
NAU returns five letterwinners in
Carson Towt,
Liam Lloyd,
Trent McLaughlin,
Oakland Fort, and
Jack Wistrcill for the 2023-24 season, with zero seniors on the roster. Five newcomers join
Shane Burcar's fifth-year roster in true freshmen
Arman Madi,
Tichyque Musaka,
Rockwell Reynolds, and
Isaiah Kai in addition to Pepperdine transfer
Carson Basham.
In the Jacks final preseason tune-up exhibition against SAGU,
Liam Lloyd led the team in minutes, playing 34 total while going 5 -12 from the field in addition to two three-pointers, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Reynolds impressed the Flagstaff crowd with a standout debut in Rolle Activity Center, scoring eight points and recording five steals in just 19 minutes on the floor.
The No. 6 UConn men's basketball team will begin its national title defense on Monday night when it plays host to Northern Arizona at Gampel Pavilion. The 2023-24 season opener is presented by KeyBank will mark the start of Connecticut's 121st season of men's basketball.
UConn is 90-30 all-time in season openers, including a perfect 5-0 in regular season openers under sixth year head coach Dan Hurley. The Huskies are 33-1 all-time in Gampel Pavilion openers. • UConn returns a pair of starters from last year's title team in Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) and Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas). Also back is preseason All-American Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.) who will look to build on a hyper-efficient freshman campaign.
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