FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 8, 2024) – NAU Basketball (10-5, 1-1) will head to Montana this week to face its first league matchups on the road, taking on the Griz (9-6, 2-0) on Thursday night, and the MSU Bobcats (5-10, 0-2) on Saturday.
Coming off the first Big Sky Conference victory of the season, Northern Arizona will look to extend to a winning streak in the treasure state after knocking Weber State with a three-point victory, snapping a nine-game losing streak for the Jacks. NAU boasted their best start to the season in non-conference play since 2002. The Lumberjacks are currently averaging 81.7 points per game, picking up victories in every matchup they have score at least 80+ in.
Northern Arizona is shooting 47.9 percent from the field, holding opponents to 43.1 percent on 85 less attempts than the Jacks. NAU is +7.4 on the glass this season, outrebounding opponents in 12 of 15 contests.
Trent McLaughlin put up a 30-piece performance over the Wildcats, shooting 60.0 percent from the field on 12 makes and three three-pointers. McLaughlin added seven rebounds and a steal in the victory. The senior averaged 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals in the opening week of Big Sky play, leading the conference in scoring, three-point field goals per game, and minutes while fourth in steals. McLaughlin's season average of 23.0 points per game ranks second in the nation.
Carson Towt comes into the week ranking third in rebounds per game (11.4) while second in double-doubles with 10.
Jayden Jackson picked up 21 points in Saturday's win, shooting 50.0 percent from the field alongside a perfect 2-2 from three-point range. Jackson is the third Lumberjack to average double-digit scoring with 13.5 points per game.
The Griz enter the week as one of two Big Sky teams to start league play 2-0, coming off wins at Eastern Washington and Idaho. Montana played a 7-6 non-conference slate, winning all seven home games and falling in all six road contests. Money Williams leads the Grizzly squad, coming off his first Big Sky Player of the Week honors of the season, averaging 14.7 points per game in addition to 1.3 steals. Joe Pridgen leads the team on the boards, grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game, while Brandon Whitney picks up a team-high 3.0 assists per game.
Montana is posting 77.2 points per game, shooting 48.8 percent from the field while holding opponent to 44.9 percent. The Griz have won the last two meetings against the Jacks, with NAU's last victory over UM coming in the 2023 Big Sky Tournament in Boise where the Jacks pulled off an 83-71 victory to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2008. The series is tied at 5-5 through the last ten meetings dating back to 2020, with Montana holding the overall series advantage at 79-36.
Montana State heads into the week led by Brandon Walker, averaging 14.2 points per game while Max Agbonkpolo leads the team on the glass, picking up 5.3 rebounds per game. Jabe Mullins leads the team with 3.4 assists per contest. Walker, Agbonkpolo, Mullins, Patrick McMahon, and Tyler Patterson have started in all 15 games for the Bobcats. MSU is sitting in last place in the league currently, going 5-8 in non-conference play while falling to EWU and Idaho in back-to-back five-point losses to open Big Sky play.
The Lumberjacks won the last matchup with the Bobcats, snapping an 11-game losing streak to MSU with a 76-71 victory in Flagstaff. McLaughlin led the way in NAU's victory, finishing with a game-high 24 points on four three-pointers, adding six rebounds and two assists. Montana State leads the overall series at 61-51. A win in Bozeman would mark the 14
th in program history for Northern Arizona.
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