FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 10, 2024) – The Lumberjacks (11-14, 4-7) ended MSU's win streak over NAU on Saturday with a 76-71 victory to put the Lumberjacks back in the win column. The victory marks head coach
Shane Burcar's first-career win over Montana State.
After committing three quick turnovers to start the Jacks were able to settle down on offense just head of the 15-minute mark, as
Carson Basham grabbed his first offensive rebound of the game while the Jacks trailed 10-7.
Isaiah Kai would then force a Montana State turnover for the Jacks to convert down the court.
With the first media break coming late into play at 12:46, the Jacks trailed by six at 15-9 while MSU's Brian Goracke recorded eight of the Bobcats first 15 points himself. The Cats had sunk three three-pointers while shooting 60.0 percent from beyond the arc at the timeout.
Seven of MSU's first 17 points came as the Cats paved the way off NAU turnovers as Montana State led 17-11 by the under-12 timeout. As the Cats found a 6-0 run in a minute-spam, Basham would quickly put a stop to it with another offensive board and the put-back, followed by a defensive stop for the Jacks and a Basham dunk off the fast break.
Picking up momentum ahead of the under-eight timeout, Kai found
Rockwell Reynolds inside the paint for the layup and one at the line to bring NAU back within five-points after trailing by as many as 12.
With 3:56 to go,
Liam Lloyd found his rhythm, forcing a MSU turnover while taking the charge at mid-court and hitting the Jacks second three-pointer of the game to cut MSU's lead to 34-33. Lloyd's shot would extend NAU's run out to 7-0 while holding the Cats scoreless for two-and-a-half minutes on the floor.
Cutting the Cats lead to five points by halftime, NAU trailed 41-36 while finding some crucial shots to end the first frame. The Lumberjacks took the shooting edge with 53.3 percent from the field while the Bobcats shot 50.0 percent, going 5-9 from behind the arc. Basham led the way with a game-high 12 points and five rebounds while Lloyd followed with eight points, matching Basham's first half rebound total. While both teams recorded 16 boards in the first 20 minutes, NAU found a +10 margin while scoring inside the paint.
Settling into the second half while the Jacks and Cats combined for five turnovers in the first five minutes of play, NAU continued to build momentum while outscoring MSU 11-7 to start things off. Montana State fell scoreless for nearly five minutes as NAU took advantage picking up their first lead with a
Trent McLaughlin three-pointer. 51-48. The Cats would continue their offensive struggles, remaining scoreless for over seven minutes of play as Basham capitalized on MSU's fifth turnover of the half with a side-step at half court to lose the Cats only defender near him and take it inside for the dunk.
The Lumberjacks would close out the game while extending the team's largest lead to 12, outscoring the Cats 40-30 in the second half to pick up the victory at 76-71. As a team NAU finished 50.9 percent from the field, while 37.5 percent from three-point range. NAU held the Bobcats to a mere 31.4 percent in the second frame, falling 2-10 from beyond the arc.
NAU grabbed the rebound advantage at +7 while Basham led the way, securing his fourth double-double of the season with 11 boards and 20 points, adding a team-high three steals. Lloyd closely followed while nearing a double-double himself, recording ten points and eight rebounds. McLaughlin finished with a team-high 24 points, six boards, and four three-pointers. The Jacks closed out the game +12 in the paint, +7 on fast breaks, and +6 from points off the bench.
The Lumberjacks will head on the road for the first time in the month of February, to take on the Sacramento State Hornets and the Portland State Vikings on Thursday and Sunday, respectively. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
