Males’s Basketball Wrap Up First Half of Big Sky Play with Pair of Dwelling Video games

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 27, 2026) – Northern Arizona males’s basketball appears to hold its momentum right into a pair of residence video games to conclude a four-game homestand at Findlay Toyota Court on the Walkup Skydome this week. The Lumberjacks start the week with Eastern Washington on Thursday and wrap up with Idaho on Saturday, with each video games tipping off at 5:30 p.m. MST.

Both video games might be streamed on ESPN+. Mitch Strohman and James Malamas might be on the decision. The Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network pregame present begins at 5:30 p.m. MST on each days. Tickets will be bought at this link.

Thursday’s sport in opposition to Eastern Washington would be the again half of a NAU basketball doubleheader. The NAU ladies’s crew will host Eastern Washington previous to the lads’s sport at 3 p.m. MST. One ticket might be good for each video games, offering followers a uncommon alternative to cheer on each Lumberjack basketball groups on the identical day.

The ‘Jacks (7-14, 1-7 Big Sky) picked up their first Big Sky victory, and snapped a seven-game skid, on Saturday, notching a formidable 81-77 victory over Northern Colorado. The win sends NAU into the week, and the shut of the primary half of convention play, with a win because the Lumberjacks look to choose up pace in the direction of the Big Sky convention event. Thursday’s sport marks the midway level of the convention slate with NAU enjoying 5 of its remaining 9 Big Sky video games on the highway.

Chris Komin was electrical in opposition to Northern Colorado, scoring a career-high 24 factors. The 24 factors have been probably the most by an NAU true freshman in a sport since Kris Yanku dropped 30 in opposition to Eastern Washington on Feb. 15, 2014. He is the primary NAU true freshman to log a 20-point sport since Mike Green did so 3 times through the 2015-16 season. Additionally, the 24 factors have been the fifth-most by a real freshman within the final 30 years.

His efficiency in opposition to Northern Colorado was the newest in a breakout surge in league play. Komin is averaging 9.8 factors per sport in Big Sky video games, capturing 54.0% from the sector and 50.0% from 3-point vary. His scoring common in convention video games solely trails Traivar Jackson (10.5) and Karl Poom (9.9) and Komin is one in all two gamers who’s averaging half-hour per sport alongside Ryan Abelman.

Speaking of Abelman, the redshirt junior returned to the NAU lineup on Saturday after lacking two video games and chipped in 12 factors. Nine of his 12 factors got here within the sport’s remaining three minutes. Abelman is tied for the team-lead with 9 double-digit scoring video games and is averaging 10.8 on the season.

Eastern Washington has performed higher of late, successful three of its final 5 video games, together with a 75-67 victory over Sacramento State on Saturday. The Eagles (5-15 total) are 3-4 in Big Sky play, rebounding from a 2-11 begin to the season.

An enormous motive for Eastern Washington’s turnaround in convention play has been its enchancment on the defensive finish. The Eagles, permitting on common 81.6 factors per sport total this season, are solely permitting 72.3 factors in league video games, which is third-fewest within the Big Sky.

Isaiah Moses is the third-leading scorer within the convention at 17.9 factors per sport. Moses is fourth within the nation, changing at a 94.2% clip on the free throw line.

Idaho is coming off a slim 69-66 loss to undefeated Portland State at residence on Saturday, a loss that snapped a two-game successful streak. The Vandals start the week with a 12-8 report and a 4-3 mark in convention play.

The Vandals let it fly from past the arc, rating twenty fifth within the nation, and first within the Big Sky, in 3-pointers made per sport (10.6) and tried (29.2). In convention play although, Idaho is barely capturing 32.4% as a crew from 3-point vary, and is averaging 77.7 factors per sport whereas permitting 76.7 factors on common.

Kolton Mitchell leads the Vandals in each scoring (14.1) and assists (4.0) whereas making a team-leading 47 3-pointers. His 47 3-pointers made is fifth-most within the convention.

NAU has gained 4 straight conferences in opposition to Eastern Washington and 5 of the final six total. Similarly, NAU has gained 4 of the final six conferences in opposition to Idaho though the groups cut up the season sequence final 12 months, successful on the opposing’s residence courtroom.

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