FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 3, 2024) – In yet another close matchup, NAU basketball (10-13, 3-6) fell in its second-straight Big Sky meeting to Idaho State (9-14, 4-6), 81-79.
"These guys and our coaches have done a lot to make these games mean something to the crowd so it's disappointing to take another loss here," head coach
Shane Burcar said.
Taking a solid start to the game, the Jacks went 3-of-6 from the field ahead of the first media timeout while Idaho State's Kiree Huie picked up back-to-back driving layups to the rim for the one-point lead with 15:27 to play.
Tichyque Musaka checked in for the Lumberjacks quickly going to work inside the paint with a bucket and a rebound as the Jacks held the Bengals scoreless for two minutes.
NAU's
Trent McLaughlin sunk the first end of the rare four-point play as he was fouled on a three-pointer ahead of the second media break, completing the play out of the timeout at the line, giving the Lumberjacks a 21-16 lead.
The Bengals then jumped out on a 14-0 run as NAU fell scoreless for four minutes while Brayden Parker went 2-of-3 at the line after being fouled on a three shot at the top of the arc. Putting an end to ISU's run, McLaughlin grabbed two at the line while the Bengals were charged with their sixth team foul with 7:15 remaining in the first half.
With 3:23 to go, the Lumberjacks were back within three points while the Bengals could not find a field goal for just over four minutes at the final media break of the half. Getting the ball out of the break, McLaughlin tabbed another two at the line for 12 total on the game as he remained perfect at the stripe with 5-for-5.
The Bengals held the edge at half, 39-35 while Huie and Parker combined for 24 of Idaho State's points alone. McLaughlin and Basham combined for 22 of NAU's 35 while McLaughlin led the way with 12 himself. Both
Jayden Jackson and
Oakland Fort led on the boards with three apiece through the first twenty minutes. The Jacks shot 44.4 percent from the field in comparison to ISU's 48.3 percent while the Bengals had the three-point percentage advantage of 40.0 to 33.3.
Miguel Tomley took a hot start to the second half for ISU, picking up eight points in the first five minutes while 2-of-4 from beyond the arc to keep the margin at 5 points with 15:01 to play. Coming out of the break, NAU's defense grabbed a stop while Jackson took the rebound and brought the Jacks back within three with a layup and one at the line.
Down by seven,
Rockwell Reynolds picked up a block for the stop on Idaho State while Fort went down the court and sunk the three-pointer to put NAU back within five with ten to play. By the final media timeout of the game with 3:47 to play, the Lumberjacks were in a seven-point hole before
Diego Campisano shrunk it to six, hitting one at the line.
With 2:38 to go, McLaughlin was called for NAU's 10
th team foul, benching the Jacks leading scorer with five fouls while the Bengals extended the lead to eight. Jackson responded with a driving layup before the Bengals used their first timeout with 2:19 remaining.
While
C.J. Ford and Jackson forced an ISU travel turnover, Fort found Campisano alone inside the paint down the court to close the gap to four points. As the Bengals recorded their ninth turnover of the game, the Lumberjacks capitalized while Fort completed the four-point play to put NAU within one. Parker was sent to the line where he went one for two, while the Jacks weren't able to find a bucket down the stretch with five seconds remaining in the game.
Fort finished with a career-high 20 points in 40 minutes on the floor, followed by Basham, Jackson, and McLaughlin all tabbing 17 each. Jackson grabbed seven rebounds and five assists to lead the team in each category. The four accounted for 71 of NAU's 79 points. The Jacks finished 46.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent on three-pointers.
The Lumberjacks will now host Montana and Montana State for the second leg of NAU's four-game home stand in Flagstaff next week. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
