FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 8, 2025) – In a game that would total 11 lead changes by the final buzzer, NAU Basketball fought neck and neck with the Montana Griz on Saturday night, falling short in a three-point final 83-80.
It was a possession-by-possession game from the start, with
Diego Campisano getting the Jacks three-pointers rolling early, finding the first with 18:52 on the clock. A 9-0 run for Montana put the Griz up 10-5 as Malik Moore hit his first three-pointer followed by a jumper in under a two-minute span.
Jayden Jackson would end the run with a driving layup, taking the Jacks into the first media timeout shooting 50.0 percent from the field while Montana started 80.0 percent from the field.
Monty Bowser immediately sinks a three-shot out of the timeout, bringing NAU back within one.
Eight first-half three pointers from the Griz would trouble the Lumberjacks while Money Williams, Austin Patterson, and Jensen Bradtke would hit three-consecutive three pointers in a three-minute stretch, keeping a five-point cushion with nine minutes till halftime. Montana would extend the lead to nine with four minutes to play as Jackson hit the three-pointer in the final minute of the half, sending teams into the locker rooms with NAU trailing 46-40.
Montana found its largest lead of the night with 14:25 to play, as a Kai Johnson three-pointer would put the Griz up by 10, 55-45. A dunk followed by a triple from
Dillan Baker would bring NAU back within one and get the crowd riled up at Findlay Toyota Court. Trading baskets back-and-forth,
Trent McLaughlin would sink a three-pointer with 1:03 remaining to keep the Jacks in it, trailing 80-78. Montana put up two shots at the line to go up by four, quickly followed by a
Carson Towt layup to keep NAU within two. A missed Montana free throw gave NAU the ball back with :31 seconds on the clock while NAU's final shot attempt was off the mark, the Griz would secure an 83-80 final.
Four finished in double-digits for the Lumberjacks as McLaughlin led with 19, followed by Jackson's 16, Towt's 15, and 10 from Bowser. The Jacks shot 50.0 percent from the field on 58 attempts while Montana finished 61.2 percent from the field on 49 attempts. NAU edged the Griz on the boards, 33-19, as Towt led the Jacks with 13 to mark his 17
th double-double of the season. Towt shot 70.0 percent from the field, adding eight assists in 38 minutes on the floor. Baker finished 50.0 percent from the floor with eight points, two rebounds, and a steal.
Northern Arizona heads back on the road next week for a Thursday night meeting with the Portland State Vikings and a Saturday afternoon matchup at Sacramento State. To stay up to date with NAU Basketball, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
