HOUSTON, Texas (November 26, 2024) – The Lumberjacks (5-2,0-0) dropped a heartbreaker in Houston on Tuesday night, falling 72-68 to the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
Northern Arizona found themselves chasing the Eagles early, as Eastern Michigan took an early 14-0 run for the 20-6 lead to start things off. As the Jacks settled in,
Trent McLaughlin found his footing to end the Eagles run and spark some Northern Arizona momentum.
11 first-half turnovers would plague the Jacks heading into the locker room, shooting 31.0 percent from the field while allowing 14 points off turnovers. The Eagles took a 22-12 points in the paint advantage into the locker room at half in addition to a 51.6 field goal percentage.
Carson Towt and McLaughlin led the Jacks with six points each in the first frame while Towt and
Jayden Jackson led the rebound game with six a piece.
McLaughlin would close the Eagles lead to 11 as he made back-to-back buckets with a layup followed by a three-pointer to force Eastern Michigan into a timeout with 16:42 to go in efforts to end the Lumberjack 5-0 run in just a minute span.
It would then again be McLaughlin who brought the Jacks within nine, on an 8-0 run, with a three-pointer followed by
Monty Bowser getting a rebound for the Lumberjacks while drawing the foul with 11:12 to play, NAU entered the timeout trailing at 53-44 while the Eagles went scoreless for three minutes.
McLaughlin would capitalize down the stretch with his third three-pointer of the night to bring the Jacks back within five, with 10:08 to play, extending NAU's run out to 12-0 while EMU remained scoreless for four minutes on the floor.
Carson Towt brought in back-to-back layups to bring NAU withing three at 55-52 with 8:36 to play, marking Towt's fourth double-double performance of the season.
With 6:34 to play, the Lumberjacks regained the lead at 57-55 as McLaughlin sunk the step-back three-pointer, as Nau continued 23-5 over nearly eight minutes.
Jayden Jackson then became the second Lumberjack of the night to hit a double-double, extending NAU's lead to four at 59-55.
Eastern Michigan entered the double bonus with 3:21 left in the game, while NAU fell scoreless for a three-minute stretch in the midst of 7-0 run for the Eagles. Despite the Jack second-half surge, Eastern Michigan would close the game out at 72-68, shooting 43.6 percent from the field while holding NAU to 41.5 percent.
McLaughlin led all scorers with 25 points. Adding four rebounds and three assists. Towt and Jackson finished their double-double nights with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and 14 points and 11 rebounds, respectively.
The Lumberjacks will next take on Houston Christian at 6 p.m. MST tomorrow night, November 26. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
