FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 30, 2024) – Closing out the non-conference slate, the Lumberjacks (9-4) picked up a dominant 110-74 victory over the Benedictine Mesa Redhawks (11-4) on Monday night, putting Northern Arizona at their best start ahead of Big Sky play since 2002.
"It was a great effort by our guys, everyone knows how I feel about them, but our crowd was awesome, it was a basketball crowd and I want to personally thank everyone who came out tonight, it was a community win," head coach
Shane Burcar said.
NAU did not take long to heat up, forcing the Redhawks to take the first timeout of the game with 14:55 to play as
Oakland Fort sinks back-to-back three points to give the Jacks their first double-digit lead of the night at 18-7. While the three-point-shot stayed hot for the Lumberjacks, NAU took 50.0 percent shooting on 14 attempts from beyond the arc into the under-eight timeout with five different players collecting for the Jacks.
Northern Arizona would close out the first half on a 15-0 run, sparked by a dunk from
Carson Towt, and capped off from a
Trent McLaughlin three-pointer. As a team, the Jacks shot 67.5 percent from the field through the first frame, hitting 10 on 17 attempts from three-point range. Towt led the way, shooting 88.8 percent with 17 points and 7 rebounds. McLaughlin and
Oakland Fort followed with 15 points each, as Fort went 6-6 and a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc in addition to five assists.
The Lumberjacks found rhythm in the paint as well Monday night, +26 inside as
Ali Ragab made his first career start, putting up double-digits with 10 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. Ragab marked just one of five double-digit scorers for the Jacks, with Towt and McLaughlin closing the game out at 22 a piece, followed by a season-high 17 points from Fort, and 12 from
Jayden Jackson. Fort finished the game 7-7, adding six assists and two steals. NAU shot 60.5 percent from the field, alongside 50.0 from three-point range on 14 made-three-pointers.
Eight total players hit a three-pointer for the Jacks in the 36-point victory as NAU found their most points in a game since the 2022 matchup against the Redhawks.
The Jacks will now shift the focus to Big Sky Conference play, hosting Idaho State for the first league matchup of the season on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Findlay Toyota Court in the Walkup Skydome. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
