By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks had three starters combine for 62 points, as they defeated the University of Montana Grizzlies 73-65 Thursday evening in the Big Sky Conference opener for the teams in UM’s Dahlberg Arena.
The lost snapped a 31-game home win streak in league games by the Grizzlies. Montana had gone undefeated at home in Big Sky games the last three straight seasons (2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13).
UM’s last league loss at home was 73-67 to Montana State in its final regular-season game in 2009-10. The Griz went on to win the conference tournament that season and advance to the NCAA tournament, losing 62-57 to New Mexico.
The Grizzlies (0-1/5-5) led 37-29 at halftime, but the Lumberjacks (1-0/4-8) out-scored them 9-2 to start the second half, and took a 41-39 lead with 14:40 to go on a 3-point shot by junior guard Aaseem Dixon.
After Dixon’s trey, the Griz tied the game for the fourth and final time at 41-41 on a lay-up by senior guard/forward Kareem Jamar, but NAU took the lead back on a jumper by senior forward Max Jacobsen, and led the rest of the game.
NAU took what looked like a commanding double-digit, 11-point lead (66-55) with 3:22 left to play on a conventional three-point play on a lay-up and subsequent free throw by Jacobsen.
But, Montana battled back, and when junior guard Jordan Gregory made two free throws with 1:32 left to play the Griz had trimmed the NAU lead to on point at 66-65. However NAU responded, as junior guard Quinton Upshur nailed a 3-pointer and Dixon made four free throws in row, giving the Jacks a 71-65 advantage with 22 seconds remaining.
Jamar led the Griz with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Gregory was UM’s other double-figure scorer with 17 points.
Jamar now has 1,306 career points which moves him up to 10th on Montana’s career scoring list, as he passed forwards Derrick Pope (1,289 points, 1980-83) and Shawn Samuelson (1,293 points, 1993-96).
Dixon scored a game-high 23 points, while Jacobsen had 21, and Upshur added 18.
The Jacks were on fire from the floor in the second half, making 17-of-22 shots for 77.3%, and they also nailed all four of their 3-point attempts.
Overall NAU shot 58.7% (27-of-46) from the floor and 63.6% (7-of-11) from 3-point range in the game, while UM was 40.0% (22-of-55) and 10-of-26 (38.5%) . The Jacks out-rebounded the Griz 33-24.
The Grizzlies host the Sacramento State Hornets this Saturday, Jan. 4, with a 7:05 p.m tip-off in Dahlberg Arena. The Hornets lost 70-55 at Montana State tonight. NAU is at MSU this Saturday.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (4-8, 1-0 BSC): DIXON, Aaseem 8-9 4-4 23; JACOBSEN, Max 10-13 1-4 21; UPSHUR, Quinton 6-12 2-3 18; BEWERNICK, Gaellan 2-5 2-2 6; SPRINGS, Len 1-2 3-4 5; KALUNA, Ako 0-0 0-0 0; MARTIN, Jordyn 0-1 0-0 0; YANKU, Kris 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 27-46 12-17 73.
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA (5-5, 0-1 BSC): JAMAR, Kareem 7-14 6-8 21; GREGORY, Jordan 5-12 2-2 17; WEISNER, Mike 3-10 0-0 8; DESHIELDS, Keron 2-4 0-0 6; DUNN, Mario 2-5 1-2 5; MARTIN, Andy 1-3 2-2 4; HUTCHISON, Eric 2-3 0-0 4; GFELLER, Brandon 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 11-14 65.
Northern Arizona…………….. 29 44 – 73
University of Montana……… 37 28 – 65
3-point goals–Northern Arizona 7-11 (UPSHUR, Quinton 4-7; DIXON, Aaseem 3-3; JACOBSEN, Max 0-1), University of Montana 10-26 (GREGORY, Jordan 5-10; DESHIELDS, Keron 2-2; WEISNER, Mike 2-7; JAMAR, Kareem 1-4; GFELLER, Brandon 0-3).
Fouled out–Northern Arizona-None, University of Montana-None.
Rebounds–Northern Arizona 33 (BEWERNICK, Gaellan 8; SPRINGS, Len 8), University of Montana 24 (JAMAR, Kareem 8). Assists–Northern Arizona 9 (DIXON, Aaseem 4), University of Montana 11 (JAMAR, Kareem 7).
Total fouls–Northern Arizona 15, University of Montana 19. Technical fouls–Northern Arizona-None, University of Montana-None.
Attendance: 3,883
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
*****