FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 6, 2025) – NAU Basketball (14-10, 5-6) made its return to Flagstaff for the first time in 19 days on Thursday night, jumping back into the win column with a 69-64 victory over the Montana State Bobcats (10-14, 5-6).
"Give credit to all our guys, when you're on the road for two weeks and coming home to play a game in 72 hours, that's a mental fight and we sure did respond to that," head coach
Shane Burcar said. "We're going to enjoy tonight and get ready for Montana on Saturday night.
Moving the team to 9-2 in Flagstaff this season,
Jayden Jackson would get things rolling for the Lumberjack offense, grabbing the first lead of the night for NAU at the 17:30 mark as Northern Arizona started a 9-0 run. Bryce Zephir, a six-game starter for the Bobcats, picked up three early fouls for Montana State, quickly putting a limit on his minutes.
The Lumberjacks went 4-of-6 from the field to start the game as the Bobcats found themselves amid shooting struggles, starting 3-of-8 from the field by the first media timeout of the night. At the under-eight timeout, Northern Arizona was shooting 64.7 percent from the field while holding Montana State to 38.1 percent, with NAU holding a 28-20 lead. Coming out of the timeout, MSU sparked an 8-0 run to come within two. Veteran Bobcat Tyler Patterson hit two three-pointers in the final 90 seconds of the half, as NAU's Jackson took matters into his own hands with the driving layup for the 40-38 halftime lead.
NAU finished the half shooting 55.2 percent from the field as the Cats recorded a 44.8 field-goal percentage led by Brandon Walker's team-high 13 points.
Trent McLaughlin led the way for NAU with 14 points at the break in addition to five assists. As the Jacks went +6 on the glass,
Carson Towt secured nine boards in the first frame, picking up 10 points on 5-6 shooting from the field.
Northern Arizona started the second half 4-of-8 from the field while holding Montana State to a 0-8 start. The 14:38 mark would see the Bobcats first points scored from the field in the second half as NAU started the half on a 10-2 run, leading MSU 50-42. NAU would maintain the cushioned lead for roughly seven minutes on the floor before the Cats began to chip away. With 4:14 to go, Sam Lecholat tied the game at 60-60 with a layup, followed by Jabe Mullins taking the lead back for MSU just moments later with another layup. Three lead changes in the final two minutes would keep things interesting, but a
Monty Bowser three-pointer coming off a Towt assist would seal the deal for the Jacks as McLaughlin would later go to the line and sink both to finalize the win at 69-64.
Northern Arizona posted 40 points inside the paint in tonight's victory, led by another 20-point performance from McLaughlin, adding six assists, three rebounds, and a steal to his final stat line. Jackson followed with 15 points, shooting 66.7 percent from the field while adding five boards. Marking his 16
th doubled-double of the season, Towt finished with 17 rebounds and 14 points, and he now closes in on 1,000 career rebounds, currently just 34 shy of the milestone.
NAU will turn the page and prep for Saturday night's matchup with the Montana Griz, set to tip at Findlay Toyota Court at 6 p.m. MST. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
