SAN ANTONIO, Texas (December 21, 2025) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team managed to tie UIW early in the second half, erasing a 14-point deficit, before the Cardinals ran away with a 90-66 victory on Sunday.
Trailing by as much as 14 points in the first half, NAU used a 7-1 run to even the score, 40-40, 90 seconds into the second half on a layup by
Kavon Bradford. Another Bradford basket kept the Lumberjacks within a possession at 44-42 at the first media timeout, but the Cardinals' lead ballooned to double-digits two minutes later.
UIW (6-6) avenged a pair of one-point losses to NAU (5-7) in the last two seasons.
"We got our butts kicked in the second half," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "I'm going to own this. There's a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of things to look forward to this season."
Ryan Abelman led the Lumberjacks with 16 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting performance. Bradford matched a season-high with 12 points and
Karl Poom notched his second consecutive double-digit scoring game off the bench with 11 points.
NAU actually outshot UIW from the floor despite the final score. The Lumberjacks shot 51.1% to the Cardinals' 48.3%, but UIW held several significant advantages.
UIW made 10 more free throws than NAU, who only managed to make 10-of-21 at the free throw line. The Cardinals also used a 39-26 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive boards, to outscore NAU by 13 in second chance points. Lastly, NAU turned the ball over 14 times to UIW's seven, which allowed the Cardinals to finish plus-11 on points off turnovers.
Abelman, three days after scoring a career-high 24 points against Southern Utah, picked up right where he left off and drilled a pair of early threes in helping NAU get out to an 8-6 lead. UIW scored the next five points, taking the lead for good after four early lead changes, and eventually led 34-20 with five minutes left before halftime.
The Lumberjacks claimed the momentum heading into the half though, riding the 3-point shot. Poom knocked down consecutive 3-pointers and
Arne Osojnik beat the first half buzzer with a corner triple to put NAU behind only 39-33 at the half.
Bradford's coast-to-coast layup at the 18:27 mark briefly tied the game at 40-40 before UIW separated itself over the final 16 minutes.
UIW's 51 points in the second half were the most allowed by NAU in a half this season – as was the 90 total points – and the Cardinals outscored the Lumberjacks by 18 after halftime. UIW corralled 10 offensive rebounds in the second half and outscored NAU, 11-0, on second chance opportunities.
The Lumberjacks will have an entire week to regroup before their final non-conference game next Monday, Dec. 29. NAU hosts Benedictine Mesa at 6 p.m. at Findlay Toyota Court at the Walkup Skydome.
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