During a 7-4 non-conference finish against the 43rd-toughest slate in Division I men’s basketball, the Montana Grizzlies allowed 67.6 points per game despite playing three teams that ranked in the Top 16 nationally in scoring.
On Saturday afternoon in Flagstaff, Montana had no answer for Northern Arizona’s slashing guards and ability to find open shooters. The Lumberjacks hit 9-of-15 from beyond the arc scored 41 points in the first half to hold a one-point advantage over the defending Big Sky Conference champions.
In the second half, Montana reengaged defensively, pounded the ball into the paint on offense and pulled away. The Griz held NAU to 10-of-31 shooting in the second half, shot 58.1 percent themselves and burst to an 85-73 win in front of 856 at Walkup Skydome.
Montana center Jamar Akoh/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana senior Jamar Akoh, who missed more than half of the non-conference schedule with a right wrist injury, dominated on the block in the second half. The 6-foot-8 center converted his first six field goal attempts and 8-of-11 overall. He scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half.
UM senior point guard Ahmaad Rorie hit a variety of crucial shots in the first half to keep the Griz in it, including a 3-pointer that cut the NAU lead to three points after it had swelled to 10 just before halftime. Rorie scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the first half. He finished 10-of-16 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc as Montana hit nine 3-pointers in 25 attempts.
Northern Arizona sophomore Carlos Hines hit a 3-pointer with 2:36 left in the first half to push the NAU advantage to 38-31. The Lumberjacks expanded the advantage to 10 on the next possession, the biggest lead for the home team. Hines scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the first half, hitting six of his eight shot attempts, including 3-of-4 from deep.
But after halftime, Montana’s guards locked up NAU on the perimeter, limiting penetration, trapping Hines as far as 30 feet from the basket and completely disrupting the flow of Northern Arizona’s offense.
Akoh’s bucket on the block four minutes into the second half gave Montana its first lead after the break. His dunk through contact and accompanying free throw gave the Griz a 54-50 cushion.
Hines hit a pair of free throws to pull NAU within five, 65-60, with 9:45 left but Montana answered with a 9-0 run. The margin never slipped below single digits again. UM senior Michael Oguine hit two free throws with three minutes left to give UM its largest advantage, 86-69.
Oguine scored 11 points, as did fellow senior Bobby Moorehead, who hit his first three 3-point attempts of the game. Akoh grabbed nine rebounds as the Griz won the battle of the boards, 37-31.
The Griz have now won 17 of their last 19 Big Sky Conference games. Northern Arizona has now lost nine straight games at Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjacks have not won a home game in 665 days.
NAU has lost eight straight games overall to fall to 0-1 in league play, 2-9 overall. Montana moves to 8-4 overall this season.
