FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 18, 2023) – The Jacks (6-5) are heading back on the road for one more game ahead of the holiday break, set to take on San Francisco (8-4) for the first time in the
Shane Burcar era.
NAU will head into Wednesday's matchup on a four-game win streak, claiming victory with buzzer-beaters in the last three straight.
Diego Campisano recorded the game-winning put-back at Abilene Christian,
Trent McLaughlin tabbed the contested three-pointer for the Jacks at Incarnate Word, and
Jayden Jackson's buzzer-beater came most recently with the put-back while hosting Southern Utah.
Through the last three games, the Jacks are averaging 50.0 percent from the field, and holding opponents to a 42.5 field goal percentage. NAU's three-point percentage has seen quite the jump through the last three victories, elevating to 37.7 percent against two WAC opponents and a Southland opponent.
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.
The Jacks are currently led by McLaughlin who is averaging 16.3 points per game, following the junior guard is
Oakland Fort and
Jayden Jackson who each are also averaging double-digit scoring with 10.3 points per game.
Carson Basham, coming off a career high game in scoring with 16 points, is leading the team in rebounds with 5.7 a game.
Liam Lloyd, who matched his career-high of 16 points for the third time at NAU, follows Basham closely averaging 5 boards per game and leads the team in assists with 4.4 per game.
The last time NAU and San Francisco met was in 2018, ahead of any current Lumberjacks on the roster as the Dons claimed a 16-point victory in California. USF holds the edge in the series, 4-2, with the Jacks last victory coming in 2006 in Flagstaff. All four San Francisco victories have come at home for the Dons, while the Jacks have one more win in a neutral site meeting in Tempe in 2005.
A low scoring game could be on the horizon for the Jacks and the Dons this week as NAU ranks 10
th in the nation in three-point percentage defense (26.7) and San Francisco ranks 17
th in the nation in scoring defense (61.6).
The Dons will enter Wednesday night's matchup coming off their fourth loss of the season, following a three-game win streak. USF brought in one road win at Vanderbilt and back-to-back home wins against New Orleans and Seattle before dropping a neutral site match to Utah State, in a one-point deficit on Saturday.
Two Dons are averaging double-digit scoring this season while Marcus Williams brings in 15.8 points per game and Jonathan Mogbo is netting 13.8 ppg. Mogbo, notable averaging a double double as of late for the Dons, is bringing in 10 boards a game as well. The junior forward has recorded five double-digit rebound games this season, with a season-high 18 against an early-season opponent for NAU, Purdue Fort Wayne. Magbo has five double doubles this season, ranking 13
th in the nation.
San Francisco as a team holds a field goal percentage of 48.0 while holding opponents to 39.8 percent from the field. Averaging 15.17 forced turnovers per game, the Dons rank 56
th in the nation in the category. Through USF's four losses, the Dons are being out-rebounded by an average margin of 4.5 boards a game, while turning the ball over an average of 2.0 times more per game.
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