Bobcats Slow Down Jacks to Open Series in Flagstaff

Thursday, January 21

Flagstaff, AZ

6 p.m.

Montana State University

8-3,5-0Big Sky

Northern Arizona

4-10,3-5Big Sky

Montana St.

Northern Ariz.

Photo by: Maria Saldivar/NAU Athletics

1/21/2021 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Montana State extended its win streak to six, its longest in 17 years, with a 62-51 victory over NAU on Thursday

By: Andrew Pedersen

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Montana State held Northern Arizona to its second lowest point output of the season as the Bobcats earned a 62-51 victory over the Lumberjacks on Thursday in the Rolle Activity Center. The Bobcats improved to 8-3 overall and 5-0 in Big Sky play, while the Lumberjacks fell to 4-10 (3-5 BSC).

The win for MSU extended its winning streak to six games which is the longest stretch of victories for the 'Cats since the 2003-04 season. The Bobcats' five-game undefeated start to league play is the first time MSU has completed the feat since the 2004-05 season.

Montana State held a lead for 36 of the contest's 40 minutes. Northern Arizona's lone advantage in the contest lasted 29 seconds.

MSU's largest lead of the opening 20 minutes of play came right at halftime as the Bobcats went up 31-26 on a Devin Kirby layup with six seconds remaining on the clock. Both teams went 11 of 24 (45.8%) from the field in the first half, but the 'Cats out-rebounded Northern Arizona 16-12 and had nine more attempts from the free throw line.

The Lumberjacks cut into the Bobcats' lead on three occasions putting the margin into a single possession, but the closest NAU could get was a 43-41 score with 11:31 to go in the second half. MSU's Mike Hood followed with a 3-pointer and Borja Fernandez had an offensive putback to get the Bobcats right back up by seven.

Montana State's lead never went below five the rest of the way.

NAU's 51 points were the least scored by the Lumberjacks in Big Sky play, while it was the lowest total the Bobcat defense has allowed this season.

Nine Bobcats found their way into the scoring column led by Jubrile Belo's 14 points and Xavier Bishop's 12. Amin Adamu had eight rebounds while Belo followed with seven. MSU led the rebounding battle 33-27 and also out-shot Northern Arizona 47-40%.

"You never know what guys will step up on what night," Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle said. "I thought Tyler (Patterson) and Nick (Gazelas) had 3-pointers that were huge. Borja (Fernandez) had a big 3. Devin (Kirby's)'s minutes were great. Defensively, he did a really good job when Jubrile got into foul trouble."

Northern Arizona was led by Cameron Shelton who scored 24 points on 10 of 20 shooting. He also had a team-high six rebounds and five assists. Shelton was the lone Lumberjack in double figures scoring. The rest of the team went 10 of 30 (33.3%) from the field.

"I thought we came out with some pretty good energy," Sprinkle said. "If we score early, we seem to relax. I thought all night, to hold that team to 51 points and shoot what they did was tremendous. We really keyed on their two great shooters in (Nik) Mains and (Luke) Advalovic. To limit those two to zero 3-pointers combined, that was huge."

Montana State returns to action in Flagstaff against Northern Arizona on Saturday. Tipoff in Rolle Activity Center is scheduled for 12 p.m.