FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 1, 2024) – Northern Arizona Basketball (9-4) will open Big Sky Conference play this week, hosting Idaho State (5-6) on Thursday at 6 p.m. MST, and Weber State (6-8) on Saturday at 2 p.m. MST.
The Lumberjacks will head into league matchups boasting their best start since the 2002 season, as well as leading the Big Sky with nine wins. Averaging 82.9 point per game, Northern Arizona is just one of three teams in the conference shooting over 48.0 percent from the field (48.3). The Jacks are coming off their largest margin of victory in two years, picking up a 110-74 win over Benedictine Mesa while extending their home win streak to 6-0 this season.
Just one of two teams in the league averaging 40+ rebounds a night, the Jacks average 41.2, just behind the ISU Bengals with 41.9. Leading the boards individually for the Lumberjacks is
Carson Towt, averaging 12.2 per contest, leading the nation in the category while tied for third in the country in double-doubles with nine total on the season, hitting the milestone in his last five straight matchups.
Ranking second in the nation in points per game,
Trent McLaughlin has continued to shine in more ways than one for the Jacks in non-conference play. Averaging 23.3 a game, McLaughlin has scored 20+ points in all but one meeting so far this season, scoring in double digits in 29-straight contests dating back to January of 2024. McLaughlin has hit 15 three-pointers in the last three matchups for NAU, in addition to eight steals, and 13 assists.
Alongside McLaughlin,
Jayden Jackson leads the team with 3.7 assists per game. Jackson is coming off a 12-point performance against the Redhawks, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Oakland Fort tabbed one of the most impressive performances for the Jacks on Monday night's Skydome opener, finishing a perfect 7-for-7 from the field with 17 points and six assists.
Idaho State will look to jump back in the win column on Thursday night, entering Big Sky play off a 70-56 loss to Utah Valley on Dec. 18. The Bengals are shooting 41.9 percent from the field while led by Washington State transfer Dylan Darling with 13.3 points, closely trailed by Jake O'Neil with 13.0 and Isaiah Griffin with 12.0. O'Neil leads the Bengals on the boards, bringing in 10.3 a contest. The Jacks will look to avenge the 2024 Big Sky Tournament loss to the Bengals on Thursday night, as NAU leads series in Flagstaff 31-24.
The Weber State Wildcats will head to Northern Colorado on Thursday to open Big Sky play with the Bears before heading to Flagstaff on Saturday. The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back losses, falling 64-62 to Utah Valley before dropping to No. 9 Oregon by a 40-point margin. As a team, WSU is shooting 46.0 percent from the field, led by second-year transfer Blaise Threatt as he averages 17.3 points per game, followed by Idaho State transfer Miguel Tomley with 12.0. Nigel Burris leads the Wildcats on the boards with 5.9 rebounds a night.
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