BOZEMAN, Mont. (February 2, 2023) - After leading for 37:32 of tonight's contest, the Northern Arizona University men's basketball team fell to the defending Big Sky Conference Champions Montana State tonight by a score of 69-68 at the Worthington Arena in Bozeman, Mont.
With 1:17 left to play, Northern Arizona led 66-63 before a 4-0 run gave the Bobcats the lead with 30 seconds remaining.
Xavier Fuller headed to the line and made two free throws to give the Lumberjacks a 68-67 lead with 17 seconds on the clock, but a bucket by MSU's Great Osobor with three seconds left gave the Bobcats a 69-68 lead. The Lumberjacks were unable to get a final shot off and fell by a point.
Although NAU nearly bounced back from a 69-54 loss to the Bobcats a month ago, Montana State wins its ninth-straight over the Lumberjacks and earns the season sweep. After the loss, Northern Arizona is now 6-17 overall and 2-8 in Big Sky play while Montana State improves to 16-8 and 9-2 in conference action. The last six of NAU's losses have been decided by five points or less.
Trenton McLaughlin led the team with a career-high 19 after making 5-of-7 from the field. Fuller (17 points) and
Jalen Cone (13 points) also scored in double figures.
Carson Towt led the team with six rebounds and four assists.
The Lumberjacks were 10-of-17 from three-point range compared to 3-of-18 for the Bobcats, but Montana State made 18 of its 21 free throw attempts while NAU was 10-for-12. Northern Arizona won the rebounding battle, 22-18, but committed 11 turnovers to MSU's six. The Bobcats were able to score 11 points off NAU's miscues. Montana State also dominated in the paint, 38-to-14.
Consecutive three-pointers by Fuller and McLaughlin got the Lumberjacks started with an 8-4 lead before Cone jumped in with a three-pointer of his own to put NAU up 11-6 just six minutes into the contest. Northern Arizona continued to keep its edge after a 13-5 run gave the Lumberjacks a nine-point lead, their largest of the half. Four consecutive points from Fuller, who had 13 first half points, stretched the lead out to nine points once again at 32-23 with just over three minutes to go. From there, the Bobcats closed the half on a 6-1 run to trim NAU's lead down to 33-30 as the teams headed into the locker room.
Both teams shot 37 percent from the field in the first half with NAU able to keep the edge thanks to making 4-of-9 from three-point range compared to just two triples for the Bobcats.
Montana State came out and made the first four points of the second half to take an early 34-33 lead. McLaughlin responded and drained five quick points to put the Lumberjacks back ahead, 40-34, teaming up with
Oakland Fort for NAU's largest run of the game of 7-0. Northern Arizona continued to have the advantage and led the remainder of the game with the Bobcats on its heels.
With under a minute to go, MSU finally found its first lead since the early goings, using a 4-0 run to pull ahead with 30 seconds remaining. Fuller kept the Lumberjacks in the game with two free throws, but Great's game-winning shot would be the difference maker.
Sixteen of McLaughlin's career-high nineteen points came in the second half as the Lumberjacks shot 50 percent from the field.
The Lumberjacks go for a season-sweep over Montana on Saturday night in Missoula, Mont., with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Mountain Standard time. The Griz are 11-12 after a 69-67 win over Northern Colorado this evening.
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