FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 22, 2026) – After playing three games in five days, Northern Arizona men's basketball returns to Findlay Toyota Court at the Walkup Skydome refreshed for a 6 p.m. MST tip-off against Northern Colorado on Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased at this
link.
Mitch Strohman and
James Malamas will be on the call both on
ESPN+ and the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network, with the radio pregame show going live at 5:30 p.m. MST.
All fans are encouraged to wear black for the Dark Sky City Blackout Game in conjunction with the second and final Astrojacks game of the season. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive a black Astrojacks t-shirt.
Additionally, fans are encouraged to bring new or gently-used winter items (scarves, beanies, gloves, mittens) to throw on the court at halftime as part of the Warp Speed Winter Wear Toss presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. All fans who bring in a winter wear item will receive a discounted $8 ticket to NAU's game against Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Following its condensed schedule, culminating in a 98-72 loss to Montana on Monday, the Astrojacks host Northern Colorado with hopes of snapping their seven-game losing streak to start conference play. NAU (6-14, 0-7 Big Sky) is hoping to avoid only the second 0-8 start to Big Sky play in program history.
The Astrojacks posted their second-best field goal percentage (.491) in conference play on Monday, but allowed Montana to shoot 67.9% from the field and 59.1% from 3-point range. Montana's field goal percentage was the highest by an opponent since Northern Colorado (.694) on Dec. 30, 2023 and the Grizzlies' 98 points were the most by an opponent since Southern Utah's 106 in overtime on Dec. 17, 2022.
That was a stark contrast from NAU's game at Portland State two days prior in which NAU held Portland State, the Big Sky's highest-scoring team, to only 63 points. However, NAU also only shot 39.1% as a team.
Karl Poom extended his career-long double-digit scoring streak to four games with a team-high 16 points against Montana. In his last four games, Poom is averaging 15.8 points per game and is averaging 10.1 points per game in Big Sky contests.
With another exceptional 4-for-6 performance from 3-point range on Monday,
Brennan Peterson is shooting 47.1% from long distance in conference play. Peterson is averaging 2.3 3-point makes per Big Sky game, while averaging a team-best 3.6 assists per game.
Oakland Fort and
Chris Komin both dished out five assists versus the Grizzlies. On the season, Fort has a stellar 6.25 assist-to-turnover ratio (25 assists, four turnovers).
Northern Colorado carried a league-best 10-3 record into conference play, but are just 1-6 in league play. The Bears (11-9) have suffered four straight losses by five points or fewer, most recently on Monday at home to Montana State, 73-68.
Northern Colorado is the Big Sky's top scoring team at 83.5 points per game overall, but the Bears are only averaging 77.1 points per game in conference play. Overall, the Bears are first in 3-point percentage (.366), second in field goal percentage (.487), second in 3-pointers per game (10.2) and first in assists (17.3) in all games.
Quinn Denker, a three-time Big Sky Player of the Week this season, is averaging 17.6 points per game and a conference-high 6.9 assists per game. Zach Bloch is one of the nation's best sharpshooters, ranking fourth in the country with a 47.1% clip behind the arc and 14th with 64 3-pointers made. Bloch is averaging 13.0 points per game.
Northern Colorado has swept the season series in each of the last two years, winning four straight meetings, and lead the all-time series, 26-16. Prior to this two-year stretch, NAU swept the season series in 2022-23.
With Saturday being the final Astrojacks game of the season, fans may bid on the game-worn Astrojacks jerseys and more through the jersey auction that ends on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. MST. To enter the auction, fans may text "NAUHOOPS" to 855-800-4975 to receive a registration link or click on this
link.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona men's basketball by following the Lumberjacks on
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Instagram.
