FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 16, 2025) – For the first time this season, Northern Arizona men's basketball heads inside the Walkup Skydome on Thursday, hosting Southern Utah on Findlay Toyota Court at 5 p.m. MST.
Mitch Strohman and
James Malamas will have the call on
ESPN+ and the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network. The radio pregame show begins at 4:30 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased at this
link.
The former, and future, Big Sky Conference rivals meet for the fourth consecutive season. The Lumberjacks have won the last two meetings, including overcoming a 15-point deficit on the road last season in an 83-75 victory, and lead the all-time series at 23-21. Thursday will be the final non-conference matchup between the two teams with Southern Utah slated to return to the Big Sky, along with Utah Tech, next season. The Thunderbirds were members of the Big Sky from 2012-22.
NAU returns to Flagstaff for the first time in more than two weeks. The Lumberjacks are 4-1 at home, all in the Rolle Activity Center, and hope to snap a four-game losing streak. The Lumberjacks fell to 4-6 on the season following a 78-69 loss to San Diego on Saturday in the last of three consecutive road games.
On Saturday, the 'Jacks managed to chop away at a 13-point deficit down to one point in the second half, but were unable to pick up their first road win of the season.
Zack Davidson recorded a team-high 19 points against San Diego, notching his sixth consecutive double-digit scoring effort. Davidson is averaging 16.2 points per game on 63.9% shooting. Davidson ranks sixth in the league scoring and first in field goal percentage, which places him 21st nationally.
Coming off the bench for the first time this season, Arne Osojnik posted his highest scoring game as a Lumberjack, totaling 17 points. Over the last four games, Osojnik is averaging 12.8 points per game, while shooting 48.7% (19-for-39) from the field.
The Lumberjacks are hoping a return home is the remedy they need to snap their skid. This season at home, NAU is averaging 85.8 points per game and shooting 52.5% from the floor. Comparatively away from Flagstaff, NAU is only averaging 61.0 points per game on 39.1% shooting. Additionally, NAU is averaging 10.6 turnovers per game at home and 13.2 per game on the road.
Heading into Flagstaff is a Southern Utah team that is 0-7 in true road games this season. The Thunderbirds carry a 4-8 record into Thursday's game having lost their last two games. Last Saturday, the Thunderbirds traveled to Seattle and lost to Washington, 105-69. Three of Southern Utah's four wins this season have come against non-Division I opponents.
The Thunderbirds are the third-highest scoring team in the WAC at 79.4 points per game, but they are also allowing 82.3 points per game. Southern Utah is one of the nation's best at fewest fouls per game, ranking 15th with 15.8 on average.
Elijah Duval, coming off an 18 point, nine rebound, six assist performance against Washington, leads Southern Utah with 13.9 points per game and 42 assists. Jaiden Feroah ranks 17th nationally with 26 blocks. Feroah is also Southern Utah's second-leading scorer at 12.6 points per game.
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