MISSOULA, Mont. (January 13, 2024) – NAU Basketball dropped its second-straight on Saturday night, with a 43-point loss to the Montana Griz in a 90-47 finish in Dahlberg Arena.
The Lumberjacks went with a different lineup for the first time in 10 games, starting
C.J. Ford for the first time in his career and
Carson Basham with his third start at the five position this season. While Basham secured the first points of the night, the Griz sunk three consecutive shots from beyond the arc for the 11-6 lead at the first media break.
By the under-12 media timeout, the Jacks trailed by nine after cold shooting from NAU led the Griz to capitalize while 50.0 percent from the field themselves. Montana finished the first half on a 14-6 run to take a 47-24 lead into the break while UM's Dischon Thomas accounted for 24 of the Grizzlies points. Thomas was the lone Griz with double-digits through the first half, going 8-12 from the field and collecting five three-pointers.
Basham led the Jacks with eight points and four rebounds after the first frame as Montana led the rebound game by an inch, 18-17. Turnovers proved to be costly for NAU who finished the half with seven while Montana capitalized on seven points off of turnovers while not committing a single turnover themselves. NAU shot 36.0 percent from the field in comparison to Montana's 56.0 percent first frame percentage.
Forcing the Grizzlies first turnover of the game, the Jacks started the second half on a 4-0 run before Josh Vasquez knocked back-to-back three-pointers for Montana. At the ten-minute mark, the Griz held a 10-0 run in a minute-and-a-half span while extending the lead to 72-36.
With 5:25 remaining in the game, Montana's Aanen Moody posted back-to-back three-pointers for a 82-40 Griz lead to force the Jacks into a timeout as UM took a 19-4 run over six-and-a-half minutes. Montana closed out the game shooting 53 percent from the field and 52.0 percent from three-point range, while three players scored in double-digits and the team recorded 14 three-pointers total.
The Lumberjacks finished 37.0 percent from the field and a season-low 8.0 percent from three-point range, only recording one three-pointer that came from
Liam Lloyd in the first five minutes of the game. Basham was the lone Lumberjack with double-digit scoring, finishing with 14 points and six boards.
The Lumberjacks will return to Flagstaff for a pair of home games next week, hosting Portland State and Sacramento State in the Skydome on Findlay Toyota Court Thursday and Saturday, respectively. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
