FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 27, 2024) – With just three regular season games to go until the Big Sky Tournament, the Jacks (13-6, 6-9) will play their final two road contests at Idaho State (12-16, 7-8) and Weber State (18-10, 9-6) this week, with a lot still left to be decided for tournament seeding.
The Lumberjacks are looking to pick up three victories to close out the season, in hopes of a No. 1-6 seed to take a first-round bye into the conference tournament. With no Big Sky opponent holding less than three losses in league play, this week's matchups are crucial in determining seeding.
NAU picked up the biggest Big Sky upset of the season last week, knocking Eastern Washington with a 78-71 victory in Flagstaff as the Lumberjacks ended the game on a 14-0 run.
Carson Basham grabbed his fifth double-double of the season while leading the Jacks with 21 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, and matching his career-high with six blocks for the second time this season.
Following NAU's win to the Eagles, the Jacks fell to the Idaho Vandals in a 10-point loss after Idaho erased a 15-point Lumberjack lead to end the first half. NAU's 38.7 percent shooting from the field mark the team's lowest field goal percentage in ten games.
Oakland Fort tabbed a career-high 25 points in the loss while shooting a perfect 13-of-13 from the line.
Liam Lloyd led the team in rebounds with six and assists with four.
NAU still takes some positives into the road trip this week, as the team has shot 47.7 through the last five meetings.
Trent McLaughlin is 18 points away from hitting 500 single-season points, which will mark just the third Big Sky player to hit the milestone this season, behind Saint Thomas (554) and Dillon Jones (550).
McLaughlin, Basham, and Fort lead the team in scoring, all in double digits with 16.6, 11.9, and 10.6, respectively. McLaughlin's 91 three-pointers made this season has already moved him into No. 8 in NAU's single-season records, with the all-time record being held by Stephen Sir (2006-07) at 124. Basham's 50 blocks has moved him into No. 6 in NAU's single-season records, with the all-time record being set at 75 by Shane Johannsen (2010-11).
Beginning the week at Idaho State, NAU will look to avenge it's Feb. 3 meeting after falling 81-79 to the Bengals in Flagstaff. Fort led NAU with 20 points while three players tabbed 17 behind him in McLaughlin, Jackson, and Basham. Idaho State's Kiree Huie led the Bengals with 20, followed by Brayden Parker's 19, and Miguel Tomley's 18.
The Bengals are coming off an 18-point upset to rivals Weber State as Tomley hit six three-pointers in comparison to the Wildcat's five total as a team. Tomley finished with 26 points while Parker trailed closely with 25 as he tabbed the double-double performance with 11 rebounds.
As a team, Idaho State is shooting 46.3 percent from the field this season, while averaging +2.3 boards a game. Four of five of ISU's starters average double-digit scoring, in Parker (14.9), Tomley (12.9), Huie (11.0), and Maleek Arington (10.9). Parker's six rebounds a night lead the Bengals while Huie follows closely with 5.4.
Idaho State leads the overall series at 64-49, going 38-16 in Pocatello. The Lumberjacks last victory of the series came in 2021 as NAU grabbed a road victory in a 73-70 contest to the Bengals. NAU will seek its 50
th victory over the Bengals this week, while looking to break the four-game skid to Idaho State.
As NAU closes out its road slate on Saturday in Ogden, the Wildcats will be coming off a Thursday night matchup with the Northern Colorado Bears while looking to sweep UNC in a matchup of the top two scorers in the Big Sky, in WSU's Jones and UNC's Thomas. Weber State in entering the week off its first loss in seven games, suffering a sweep from the Bengals as Idaho State won both games of the regular season series for the first time since the 2003 season.
The Wildcats are shooting 46.9 percent from the field this season, ranking fourth in the Big Sky through 28 games. The Wildcats 35.5 percent from three-point range ranks third amongst Big Sky opponents, while Steven Verplancken leads the way shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc, sinking a team-high 63 three-pointers this season. Four of five starters for Weber State average double-digit scoring with Jones' 20.4, Verplancken's 11.8, Dyson Koehler's 10.4, and Blaise Threatt's 10.4 points per game.
Weber State leads the overall series at 89-29, while the Jacks will seek their ninth win in Ogden this week. The Wildcats have claimed the last eight victories over NAU. The Lumberjacks last victory over WSU came in 2020, with a 72-64 victory over Weber State in Flagstaff. NAU's last road win in Ogden came in 2015 as NAU recorded a 61-54 victory over the Wildcats.
NAU will return home on Monday for the final regular season contest, hosting Northern Colorado for Senior Day where
Liam Lloyd will be recognized for the Jacks as he will play his final game at Findlay Toyota Court. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
