NAU basketball made things interesting with a late second-half surge, but ultimately weren’t able to shut the door on Montana State.
A 15-point first-half deficit ended up being NAU’s undoing as it dropped its first matchup against conference-opponent Montana State University Thursday night.
NAU’s defense was sluggish in the first 20 minutes, surrendering 50 points on 18/33 team shooting. The Lumberjacks gave up seven first-half three-pointers and let the Bobcats score 20 points in the paint. MSU also led the first half in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and total field goals made and even added 12 points off turnovers.
Sophomore point guard Jaylen Cone led NAU in scoring, putting up 26 points on eight made shots, including five from three-point range. Cone thinks his team could have won if they played a better first half.
“The biggest mistake that I think cost us the game was our effort in the first half,” Cone said. “They were the tougher team, they were more physical and they played with more energy. That team that we were in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the game, that’s what we need to be the whole 40 minutes. We can’t wait until we’re down 15.”
The lackluster first half proved fatal for NAU, as the Lumberjacks were able to mount a second-half comeback that at one point saw the game tied with 1:24 remaining.
Cone — who fouled out in the game’s final minutes — scored seven points in a row three minutes into the second half, and was the main reason the game stayed close down the stretch. After chipping away at the Bobcat lead, NAU was finally able to get the score within two and, after an MSU free throw, Cone hit a three-pointer to tie it with just over a minute left.
After being forced to foul and give up free throws, NAU was again able to cut the lead to three, but a subsequent foul and two MSU free throws sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
NAU head coach Shane Burcar understands how important Cone is to the team and recognizes what a special player he is.
“There’s not a game I’ve gone into this year [where I haven’t thought] we have the best player every time we play,” Burcar said. “I think our players know he’s our best player… everybody can see his talent. It’s a good feeling to know that when you need a basket from your point guard, you’re going to get a basket. To have someone like that, it makes you feel really good, and I know as a coach, that might make you not sleep so well the night before the game knowing [you’re going up against] guys like that.
Junior shooting guard Mason Stark was another contributor for NAU, scoring eight points and hitting two huge threes that kept his team in the game as the clock continued to run down.
Stark echoed Cone’s thoughts on the first half, but added that the team felt confident towards the end of the game.
“After the first half, coach said the biggest thing was to chip away,” Stark said. “We got the crowd going, I think that was big. The crowd got into it and I think that kind of sparked a run, at that point we felt like we could win. Like Jalen said, the biggest thing was the first half. Just the energy, I felt like we didn’t have it. We came out in the second half with way more confidence and that’s how we have to play for a full 40 minutes.”
With the loss, the NAU falls to 6-10 on the season and sits at seventh in the Big Sky. The Lumberjacks will have to make some quick adjustments as they prepare to host the University of Montana Grizzlies at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on Saturday, Jan 22 at 2 p.m MST.
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