FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 22, 2024) – NAU Basketball (5-1, 0-0) earned a thrilling one-point victory over the Incarnate Word Cardinals (3-2, 0-0) on Friday night, starting the season 5-1 overall for the first time since 2001, hitting a three-game win streak while remaining undefeated in Flagstaff.
NAU took a hot start, with starter
Ryan Abelman sinking three early three-pointers to spark the Jacks largest run, 9-0 for the 18-point lead. The Jacks carried a 46.2 percent from three-point range into halftime for a 10-point lead as
Jayden Jackson led the game with 14 points, closely trailed by
Carson Towt's 11 as the only two with double-digits through the first frame.
Northern Arizona held the Cardinals to 35.3 percent from the field, and 4-of-14 from three-point range while the Jacks capitalized on nine second-chance points.
Coming into the second frame, Incarnate Word picked up a 7-0 run to spark some momentum for the Cardinals while NAU went scoreless for just a minute-and-a-half. Back-and-forth play continued as UIW took the lead for the first time with 11:46 to play, 53-52.
With three minutes to play, the game tied up at 69-69 with the Jacks in double bonus and the Cardinals entering the bonus. Jackson sunk two at the line following UIW's four-point lead with a minute to play to bring the game back within one.
Trent McLaughlin took matters into his own hands, hitting the three-pointer for the lead at 75-74 while
Oakland Fort grabbed the steal to seal the game for NAU.
Fort finished with a team-high +9, earning six rebounds, six points and four assists.
Ali Ragab finished the night with three offensive rebounds in under three minutes on the floor. Jackson led the Jacks with a career-high 23 points in addition to four rebounds, and eight fouls drawn. Jackson finished the night shooting 77.7 percent from the field, hitting eight shots from the line. Towt grabbed his eighth-career double double, finishing the game with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
NAU will now head to Houston to take on Eastern Michigan in a neutral site meeting on Tuesday before taking on Houston Christian on Wednesday. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
