FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 16, 2023) – NAU Basketball (6-5) pulled out its fourth-straight victory of the season, and first over Southern Utah since 2020, with a
Jayden Jackson buzzer-beater, to lift the Jacks to a 76-74 win at Rolle Activity Center.
Four-straight wins marks the programs longest win streak since the 2019-20 season where the Lumberjacks won five straight in conference play. NAU's 6-5 start matches the best start record wise since the 2019-20 season through the first eleven games. The Jacks six DI non-conference victories mark the most since in the regular season since 2010-11.
"We found our way to win at the end, with our young men fighting and communicating we have become the program we are and we're going to continue to focus on the game ahead after enjoying this one," head coach
Shane Burcar.
Liam Lloyd accounted for the Jacks first eleven points of the game, dropping a quick step-back three-pointer following with back-to-back midrange jumpers. Lloyd, the Jacks leader in assists, grabbed his first off a
Carson Basham dunk as the Jacks took a 9-5 lead into the first media timeout. Lloyd quickly added a layup to his resume coming out of the timeout to extend the lead.
The Thunderbirds jumped out on a 11-0 run, backed by Parsa Fallah hitting 3-3 from the field, as Southern Utah took the three-point lead, 14-11, into the second media break.
C.J. Ford came off the bench and quickly sunk a three-pointer to tie things back up.
After SUU led for three minutes, the Jacks regained the lead as
Oakland Fort dropped his first three-pointer of the game as
Trent McLaughlin found him alone at the top of the arc just ahead of the under-four media timeout.
The Jacks took a one-point lead at 40-39 into halftime, as Lloyd led the way with 11 points, shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field and 1-1 from beyond the arc in eighteen minutes on the floor. Mclaughlin and Basham followed with six a piece. As SUU led the rebound battle 20-12,
Jayden Jackson led the Jacks with three himself while adding a dunk and a layup to his stat line for a perfect shooting half as well, 2-2 from the field.
NAU shot 57.1 percent from the field, while holding the T-Birds to a 45.4 shooting percentage. SUU forced eight turnovers while committing six through the first half, as they were led offensively by Fallah with 12 points and six boards. Zion Young and Dominique Ford followed closely with nine and eight, respectively.
The T-Birds came out looking to avenge their first half three-point percentage of 25.0, draining two quick three-pointers to regain the lead. Lloyd didn't hesitate to answer for the Lumberjacks, continuing his perfect shooting with his second three-pointer of the game. While holding SUU scoreless for two and a half minutes, NAU broke out on a 10-0 run as McLaughlin's first three-pointer gave NAU a five-point lead.
Basham tabbed his first block of the game, leading up to McLaughlin's third three-pointer of the game, putting the Jacks up by its largest lead of the game 60-53 with thirteen minutes remaining in the game. SUU responded with a 7-0 run over a minute and a half to bring things back within two points with eight minutes on the clock.
With :50 seconds remaining, the Thunderbirds were coming off a zero field goals for three minutes as they were awarded ball possession in their own territory. Dwindling Southern Utah's chances,
Jayden Jackson picked up a steal with the three-point lead as SUU fouled
Oakland Fort with :21 seconds to go. Braden Housley kept things interesting with a three-pointer, tying things up at 74-74 with 5.9 seconds remaining.
For the third-straight game, and to win the fourth-straight game, the Lumberjacks snagged a buzzer-beater to claim victory. Jackson followed through in the paint for the put-back to lift the Jacks to victory, 76-74.
Four Lumberjacks finished in double-digit figures as McLaughlin led the way with 19 points. Basham tabbed his career high with 16 points, adding seven rebounds and three blocks, while Lloyd matched his career-high with 16 points alongside five assists. Jackson finished nearing a double-double as well with 10 points and seven rebounds. As a team, the Jacks shot 53.3 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range.
The Lumberjacks will head to California for one game against San Francisco on Wednesday. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
