CHENEY, Wash. (January 23, 2025) – NAU Basketball picked up the first road victory in Cheney since 2010 on Thursday night, earning the nine-point victory for a 71-60 final at Eastern Washington.
A 7-7 tie would take the game into the first media break with 15:17 to play as
Monty Bowser opened scoring on the first possession with a strong three-pointer off the pass from
Jayden Jackson. Bowser started 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, to bring the Jacks a 16-15 lead by the under-12 timeout.
Diego Campisano, getting the nod for his first start of the season, picked up an early three-pointer and two at the line to lead the Jacks alongside Bowser's impressive performance, as the team shot 50.0 percent on the first eight attempts from three-point range.
A three-pointer from Sebastian Hartmann with 7:36 to play in the half would give Eastern Washington its first lead of the game, 21-19, as NAU fell scoreless for two and a half minutes. Campisano would bring NAU back within one, hitting his second three-pointer of the night to end the Jacks scoreless stretch. Checking in and quickly making a difference,
Ryan Abelman sent the long two-point jumper to grab the lead back at 24-23 with just under five to play until halftime.
NAU would not score a field goal for the final five minutes of the half as
Leigh Rickwood-Pitt and Jackson would each sink two free throws to keep Eastern Washington within reach heading into halftime trailing the Eags 33-30. Neither team would have a double-digit scorer through the first 20 minutes as Bowser and Campisano led NAU's shooters with nine each.
Two early three pointers from the nation's third-highest scorer,
Trent McLaughlin, would give Northern Arizona a five-point lead at the first media break, 42-37. The Jacks sported a 7-0 run into the second timeout, holding the Eagles scoreless for nearly three minutes, jumping out to a 46-37 lead. The Jacks would hold on to the cushioned lead and close out the victory at 71-60, backed by a game-high 20 points from McLaughlin, and 17 from Campisano while Bowser finished in double-digits as well with 10.
The Lumberjacks were led by
Carson Towt on the boards, once again hitting double-digit rebounds with 10, finishing with eight points while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. NAU led the glass 40-26. The Lumberjacks picked up 16 assists on 21 baskets, as
Jayden Jackson tabbed a game-high seven assists.
Northern Arizona will now head to Moscow, Idaho to take on the Vandals on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. MST. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
