Carson Towt had a double-double, scoring 10 points and totaling 18 rebounds, which is just one shy of his personal best in the game against South Dakota on Saturday.
Head coach Shane Burcar told the media during the postgame press conference, “We laughed in the locker room, because that’s video game stuff.”
On Wednesday, the Lumberjacks suffered a heartbreaking loss to Oral Roberts in Oklahoma, took Thursday off from practice, and regrouped for today’s game.
“I want to put a feather in the cap of every player, for us to bounce back like that—it was heartbreak hotel for us Wednesday night,” Burcar said.
“I think it shows our resolve, it shows the connectivity—a couple of those games we were down big, and our leads—like tonight, we were able to hold that lead and we’re learning how to win,” Towt said.
In the first half, Jayden Jackson got the three-point scoring going, as the Lumberjacks took a 12-5 lead at the first media time out. The crowd got into the match when Trent McLaughlin sent a pass to Monty Bowser to slam dunk for the 25-14 lead with 9:24 left in the first half.
Coyote player Isaac Bruns hit a three-pointer for his team, but Bowser responded with his own three-pointer. McLaughlin would get a steal and lay it in for an easy two points increasing the Lumberjacks lead to 31-19. NAU continued to work the perimeter offensively but despite having a 14-point lead with just over three minutes left in the half, they would end the half with just a seven-point lead.
The second half started when Oakland Fort sent a pass to Ryan Abelman for a three-pointer.
Bowser hit another three, leading the Coyotes to call a time out after going down 60-42. South Dakota player, Cameron Fens used his 7’0 ft frame and strength to drive on Towt for two points.
Bowser came off the bench confident in today’s matchup going 6-7 in the paint and 2-3 from the field, totaling 14 points.
Bowser told the media that being confident coming off the bench is something he has been focusing on this season, telling reporters after the game, “That’s something me and the coaches have been talking about especially the guys coming off the bench just being confident and being ready to shoot and play your role.”
Towt forced two jump balls in the first half and forced another in the second half, but Coyote Guard, Paul Bruns earned his own jump ball on the transition. Towt scored a massive slam dunk, pulling himself up the rim to show off his strength, but it was a short lived celebration because Jackson gave up a steal to Coyote’s Chase Forte who sent the ball to Kaleb Stewart for the slam dunk. The Lumberjacks would rebound a missed shot by the Coyotes and dribble the clock out to secure the 95-82 victory.
Burcar gave credit to South Dakota saying they’re a very good basketball team, “I thought we were pretty dominant from the start to the buzzer and I’m not taking anything away from South Dakota.”
The Lumberjacks return to play in the Skydome on December 30, to take on Benedictine Mesa at 6pm.
