FARGO, N.D. (December 6, 2025) – The Northern Arizona men's basketball team nearly climbed out of a 10-point hole, but their last-second rally fell short Saturday night in the Scheels Center to North Dakota State, 69-68.
Ryan Abelman's corner 3-pointer with 34.7 seconds remaining put NAU within a point and the Lumberjacks got the defensive stop on the opposite end of the court, setting NAU up with the last possession.
The Bison, which improved to 7-3, smartly fouled
Kavon Bradford with 0.8 seconds left with fouls to give, which put the Lumberjacks on the baseline out of bounds. Bradford's lob to
Traivar Jackson was tipped away, sealing the Bison's victory. NAU fell to 4-4 with the loss.
"The guys responded well Thursday and Friday (after Wednesday's loss to South Dakota State) and that's who we are," said head coach
Shane Burcar. "I'm proud of their effort. To score 46 points in the second half and have a chance to win it at the end says a lot about our guys and we'll live and learn from this."
NAU, which trailed 30-22 at halftime, surged back in the second half behind 56.3% shooting. The Lumberjacks scored 46 points – their highest scoring second half against a Division I opponent this season – after the intermission. NAU's second half efficiency helped the Lumberjacks outshoot the Bison, 45.9% to 40.6%, for the game.
However, NAU only attempted eight free throws to 11 makes by North Dakota State. The Bison also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, which led them to a plus-6 advantage in second chance points. North Dakota State held the overall edge on the glass, 42-33.
NAU's defense led the way early as the Lumberjacks kept the Bison off the scoreboard for nearly seven minutes to start the game. North Dakota State missed its first eight shots and turned the ball over five times before putting in its first points. During this stretch, Abelman scored five points as NAU jumped out to a 9-0 lead.
The Bison slowly settled in and used a 12-0 run to snag a 21-15 lead with 5:47 to play in the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Trevian Carson, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, snapped a 15-15 tie and gave North Dakota State the lead for good.
NAU shot only 34.5% in the first half, but behind a dominant second half by
Zack Davidson, it found its offensive rhythm. Davidson scored 18 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, recording his third 20-point game of the season.
North Dakota State scored the half's opening basket, pushing its lead to 32-22, but NAU immediately answered with an 11-2 run to close to 34-33 a little more than three minutes into the period.
After the Bison re-opened a nine-point lead with less than five minutes to play, the Lumberjacks hit the accelerator.
Arne Osojnik started a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer, Traviar Jackson followed with a dunk and Davidson converted at the rim to bring NAU within 63-61 at the final media timeout.
In fact, NAU made its last six field goal attempts, the last coming on Abelman's third 3-pointer of the game. That set up a dramatic ending as Jackson swatted Damari Wheeler-Thomas' driving layup out of bounds with 9.6 seconds. North Dakota State's second opportunity was off the mark and Bradford sprinted up the court off the rebound before he was fouled.
Following an NAU timeout, the 'Jacks were unable to get a game-winning shot off.
"I wasn't surprised with our effort, toughness and attitude," Burcar said. "Our defense traveled and it got us back in the game. Unfortunately, we could not come away with the win."
Abelman and Osojnik backed Davidson's 20-point game with 11 points apiece. Bradford led the team with five assists, while Jackson recorded a season-high three blocks and Abelman set a new career-high with five steals.
Next, the Lumberjacks play in Tempe against Arizona State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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