FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 6, 2025) – Northern Arizona men's basketball plays its first of 16 home games in Flagstaff on Friday, hosting Justice University in Rolle Activity Center at 6 p.m. MST.
The 2025-26 home opener will be streamed live on
ESPN+ with
Mitch Strohman and
James Malamas on the call. The radio pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. MST on the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network.
Season and single-game tickets, along with mini plans, for Lumberjack men's basketball are available for purchase at this
link.
NAU returns to the friendly confines of the Rolle Activity Center where the Lumberjacks were an undefeated 5-0 last season. Over the last two seasons, the Lumberjacks are 7-0 in Rolle. Overall, the Lumberjacks posted a 10-5 home record in Flagstaff with the 10 wins matching the program's most since the 2019-20 season.
NAU will look to pick up its first win of the season after a season-opening 77-71 loss to Drake in The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Monday.
Zack Davidson (29),
Ryan Abelman (18) and
Arne Osojnik (10) all scored in double-figures in the season opener. For Davidson and Abelman, their scoring totals marked a career-high.
Making his first collegiate start, Davidson also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, a number equaled by
Traivar Jackson, who also made his first collegiate start. Davidson's 29 points were the most by a Lumberjack in a season opener dating back to at least the 2002-03 season. He is one of three Lumberjacks (Eric Platt in 2009-10, Bernie Andre in 2018-19) to score at least 20 points in a season opener during that stretch.
Four newcomers (Davidson, Osojnik, Jackson and
Brennan Peterson) earned the start in the season's first game alongside Abelman. Peterson is the first NAU true freshman to start at point guard in a season opener since Cameron Shelton in 2018-19. In the last 15 seasons, Peterson is one of four true freshmen to start the opener along with Shelton, Isaiah Thomas (2015-16) and Colin Gruber (2011-12).
The Lumberjacks nearly came away with an impressive opening statement against the Bulldogs, who was a Round of 32 team in the NCAA Tournament this past March. However, Drake ended the game on a 6-0 run after Osojnik tied the score at 71-71 with just over two minutes remaining with an and-1. NAU led by three at the half, following a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Abelman, and by as much as 11 in the second half.
NAU has won four straight home openers and five of six under head coach
Shane Burcar. In four of its last five home-opening wins, NAU is averaging 101.8 points per game against non-NCAA opponents. Going back to the 1992-93 season, NAU has won 31 of its last 33 home openers.
To extend its home opener success, NAU hosts Justice University, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) based out of Chandler, Ariz., in the first all-time meeting between the two programs. Justice is also seeking its first victory of the season following an 87-63 loss to Embry-Riddle on Oct. 23.
The Lions won their second Southwestern States Intercollegiate Conference championship last year and placed seventh at the NCCAA National Tournament. Justice finished last season with a 13-17 overall record and 11-1 mark in conference play.
Justice returns a pair of first team all-conference players in Vanti Erving Jr. and JD Walker. Erving Jr. averaged 20.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season, while Walker averaged 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. Walker opened this season strong, leading the team with 14 points against Embry-Riddle to go along with three rebounds and three blocks. Jayden Cameron also scored in double-figures with 10 points and paced the Lions with five assists.
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