On the second day of the Big Sky Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the top-seeded Northern Arizona women cruised past Northern Colorado and the NAU men won in thrilling fashion, hitting a buzzer-beater by Oakland Fort to knock off top-seeded Eastern Washington 81-80.
The NAU men lost 10 games on the final possession, including three at the buzzer and three more in overtime. But now the Lumberjacks have won twice in this postseason and are into the semifinals. Northern Arizona awaits the winner of No. 4 Montana and No. 5 Idaho State.
Press conference times: Northern Arizona’s Oakland Fort, senior Xavier Fuller and head coach Shane Burcar – 0:51
Eastern Washington’s Steele Venters, Ellis Magnuson and head coach David Riley – 12:36
The Northern Arizona women jolted to a 16-4 lead in the first quarter on the way to a 64-48 win over No. 9 Northern Colorado. NAU advances to the semifinals to play the winner of No. 4 Eastern Washington and No. 5 Montana.
Press conference times: NAU’s Regan Schenck, Nyah Moran and head coach Loree Payne – 21:42
Northern Colorado’s Hannah Simental, Delaynie Byrne and head coach Kristin Mattio – 30:42
Video filmed & produced by Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports. All Rights Reserved.
