FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 15, 2026) – In the first game announced in the 2026-27 Northern Arizona men's basketball schedule, the Lumberjacks will travel to Lexington, Ky. for their first-ever meeting against Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 13. Tip-off time and TV broadcast information for the game in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center will be announced at a later date.
NAU, returning three starters in
Ryan Abelman,
Chris Komin and
Brennan Peterson, will take on one of the premier collegiate basketball programs in the history of the sport. Kentucky returns five players from last season's roster that went 22-14 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have won at least 20 games in 17 of the last 18 seasons, with the only exception being the COVID-affected 2020-21 campaign.
The Lumberjacks will be only the second Big Sky team to travel to the home of the eight-time NCAA Champions. Montana State is the other in 2014.
For NAU, it will be a rare trip to the Bluegrass State, marking only the program's second trip to Kentucky. NAU previously lost to Western Kentucky on Feb. 18, 2005, a game which was part of ESPN's now-defunct BracketBusters event.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona men's basketball by following the Lumberjacks on
X and
Instagram.
