FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 11, 2025) – The Lumberjacks (10-7, 1-3 Big Sky) dropped their second-straight matchup, the first time doing so this season, in a five-point loss to the Montana State Bobcats on Saturday night.
A heavy defense start for Northern Arizona would leave the game scoreless before
Jayden Jackson opened scoring as
Trent McLaughlin connected with him inside the paint with 18:04 to play. The Jacks would take a 9-0 lead into the fist media timeout, backed by five from
Carson Towt while
Oakland Fort picked off the in-bound pass from the Bobcats, forcing the first turnover of the night as MSU continued scoreless for the first four minutes of play.
Fort sunk NAU's first three-pointer to extend the Jacks run to 12-0 with 15:22 remaining in the half. Montana State ended the run at the 13:05 mark of the game at the line, going 0-12 from the field to start the game. The Bobcats found their first field goal at the 11:22 mark while NAU led 18-3.
A 9-4 run from Montana State would bring the Cats within 10 of the Jacks by the final media timeout of the half, as NAU held a 20-10 lead. The Jacks would take a 25-17 lead into halftime, holding the Bobcats scoreless for the final 3:52 minutes of the first frame.
Towt led NAU's scorers with 7 first half points all while grabbing 11 boards 1's two assists. Northern Arizona shot 39.3 percent on 32 attempts while the Cats were just 21.5 percent from the field. NAU was +10 on the glass and led points in the paint 20-8 following the first 20 minutes of play.
Coming out of halftime,
Ali Ragab got the Lumberjack offense rolling on the first possession with a dominant two-handed dunk to extend the lead back out to ten. A scoreless stretch for NAU would allow the Bobcats to come back within two, as the teams began to battle while the clock wound down. Montana State found their first lead of the night with 1:58 to play as Tyler Patterson hits the three-pointer for the 54-52 advantage. Northern Arizona closed out the game 1-12 from the field as Montana State secured the 58-53 victory.
McLaughlin and Towt finished as the Lumberjack's lone double-digit scorers, McLaughlin leading with 24 followed by Towt's 12. Towt earned his 20
th career double-double performance with 17 rebounds. In addition, Jackson and
Monty Bowser each picked up six boards off the glass as NAU finished +7 as a team.
NAU Basketball will return home to Flagstaff on Thursday night to host Sacramento State for a 6 p.m. MST matchup at Findlay Toyota Court. To stay up to date with the Jacks, follow the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
