FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 4, 2023) – Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, the Lumberjacks (6-8, 0-1 Big Sky) will return home on Saturday to host North Dakota (8-8, 0-2) in the second game of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge at 1 p.m. MST.
Northern Arizona and North Dakota have met a total of ten times in program history, while the fighting hawks hold the series advantage at 6-4. The Lumberjacks won the last meeting in Flagstaff in a thrilling Jan. 2017 game where the Jacks earned a one-point victory from a last-second block to hold the lead.
The two teams have yet to match up since the 2018 season, North Dakota's final season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. UND won the last conference matchup in overtime in Grand Forks, 86-81 as the Hawks made their way to the Summit League to start the 2018-19 season where they have remained since.
NAU Basketball is looking for their seventh Division-I non-conference victory this season before jumping into the thick of Big Sky play, a number that would mark the most DI non-conference program wins in a single season since the 2007-08 campaign. The team is coming off a tough road loss in Omaha to begin the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, after being outscored by the Mavericks in the second half 50-25. The Jacks offense struggled in the second frame, shooting just 25.0 percent from the field while Omaha could not be stopped, shooting 60.0 percent from the field themselves.
Trent McLaughlin, NAU's leading scorer this season, was held to one field goal in the Jacks loss, although still averaging 15.1 points per game. The junior did record a career-high five assists after hitting four as a game-high five times in his career previously.
Oakland Fort is coming off back-to-back double digit scoring games, with 11 points in each, as he now averages double digits with 10.0 points per game.
As a team, NAU is shooting 43.5 percent from the field along with 32.0 percent from three-point range. The Lumberjacks are looking to flip the scouting report and jump back into the rebound game, as the team has been outrebounded in the last five-straight matchups.
Carson Basham currently leads the team in the rebounding game, averaging 5.1 a game while
Liam Lloyd follows with 4.4. Lloyd leads the Jacks in assists with 3.9 a game as well.
North Dakota will also be looking to snap a losing streak, as the Fighting Hawks have dropped their last four to Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, and Nebraska. UND is shooting 43.1 percent from the field while allowing opponents 45.0 percent from the field. The Fighting Hawks average 36.3 rebounds per game, with a +1.0 margin.
The Fighting Hawks have three players averaging double-digit scoring, while B.J. Omot leads the team in shooting with 15.9 points a game. Tyree Ihenacho follows closely with 15.2 a game, trailed by Treysen Eaglestaff who holds a field goal percentage of 41.8 percent alongside 14.5 ppg. On the defensive side of the game, Amar Kuljuhovic leads UND with 6.4 boards a game. The Junior has recorded three double-digit rebound games this season, in addition to two double-doubles in non-conference play.
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