PORTLAND, Ore. (February 17, 2024) – NAU Basketball (12-15, 5-8) split the weekend road trip after an 83-68 loss at Portland State following a slow first half start for the Jacks, a second-half surge would prove to not be enough as turnovers would allow the Vikings to control the game.
"We had opportunities, but we weren't hitting the big shots," head coach
Shane Burcar said. "We have to continue to try and get better and win some of these battles."
After the Vikings took a 9-1 start to the game, some miscues from both teams would lead to the Jacks trailing by six, 9-3, at the first media timeout of the contest as
Oakland Fort was the lone Lumberjack with a field goal. Putting an end to a three-and-a-half minute scoring drought,
Carson Basham grabbed one inside the paint while NAU trailed by eight.
Four early turnovers proved to be costly for the Jacks while down 12 and allowing six points on five turnovers with 11:58 to go in the first half. Trailing by 16, NAU's offense found its spark while the defense produced three-consecutive stops to help the 10-0 run as the Vikings held the 24-17 advantage with 6:30 to play in the first frame. By the final media break of the half, NAU was shooting 42.1 percent from the field in comparison to PSU's 38.5 percent as the Vikings led by 12 while going 9-10 from the free throw line as NAU was 1-2 at the stripe.
The Vikings extended the lead to 19 at the half while NAU trailed 41-22 at the midpoint. NAU's 12 first half turnovers would allow 17 points off turnovers for Portland State while the Vikings went +7 on rebounds as well. 11 of the Viks points came at the line on 12 opportunities while NAU went 2-4 at the charity stripe in the first frame. With no Lumberjacks scoring in double-digits in the first half, Jackson led the way with six points while Fort and Basham followed with four a piece. K.J. Allen led the way for PSU with 15 points and four rebounds, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Looking to turn things around in the second half, Basham quickly took a layup inside as Lloyd found him within reach for the Jacks to take the first bucket of the second half. A 10-6 start for the Jacks would cut the deficit to 15 with 16:30 to go as Jackson tabbed 10 points as the first double-digit scorer for NAU.
While things would continue back-and-forth, NAU was outshooting the Vikings 51.4 percent to 48.8 percent at the under-12 media break, in need of some defensive stops to continue chipping away at the score. Falling scoreless for four minutes from the field, NAU's drought would lead to a 21-point lead for the Vikings as PSU would extend their second half shooting percentage to 73.3 with just under eight minutes to play.
With 3:20 to go, a Jackson layup coming out of the final media break would bring the Jacks back within 13. The Vikings would hold onto the lead despite NAU's late push while outscoring Portland State 46-42 in the second frame.
After zero double-digit scorers in the first half, NAU would finish with five led by Jackson with 14 and
Trent McLaughlin matching with 14, while Basham would finish with 12, and Campisano and Lloyd with 10. Basham, Lloyd, and Jackson would all three grab five boards to lead the team. Both teams finished 50.0 percent from the field while Portland State ended +7 in rebounding, capitalizing on 19 points off of 15 NAU turnovers.
NAU will return to Flagstaff to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Idaho Vandals next week for a pair of Skydome meetings. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
