NAU Basketball Sweeps Montana Saturday

The NAU men’s and women’s basketball teams each beat the Montana Grizzlies Saturday, with the men’s team pulling off their largest come from behind win in almost ten years. Starting the day was the NAU women, who got off to a strong start and carried it for the game to beat the Grizzlies, 89-76, at the Rolle Activity Center. Former Coconino Panther J.J. Nakai had a career-high 29 points, including six-of-nine from the three-point line and guard Regan Schenk had 21 points in the win. With the win the Jacks snapped a four-game losing streak and split the two game series with Montana. The women will head to Bozeman, Montana this week to take on the Montana State Bobcats. The men’s team got off to a slow start, trailing 34-19 at halftime, but the Lumberjacks have been a second half team this season and used a 43-24 second half to beat the Grizzlies, 62-58, in Montana. NAU held Montana scoreless for the last five-and-a-half minutes with a 12-0 run for their first win in Missoula since 2014. The Jacks were led by Nik Mains, who returned to action after missing Thursday’s game with an ankle injury, to score a career-high 17 points. Cameron Shelton added 15 points and eight rebounds and Carson Towt chipped in with 13 points. The Jacks head home to take on Montana State this week. Thursday’s game tips off at 6 p.m. with the pregame show at 5:30 on KAFF Country 93.5/AM 930 in Flagstaff and Fun Oldies 97.9 in Prescott.