FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Eastern Washington Eagles struggled to shoot the ball from beyond the arc and gave up a 7-point lead with three minutes remaining in a 71-78 loss at Northern Arizona on Thursday night in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Lumberjacks (13-15, 6-8 Big Sky) closed the game on a 14-0 run to give EWU their third conference loss of the season (17-10, 10-3 Big Sky).
We talked about how if they don't score, they don't win," head coach David Riley said. "They scored a lot and we didn't score. It's as simple as that. We've got to find a way to get stops."
It was a tight game throughout, with 18 combined lead changes and 12 ties. NAU led by one at half — 35-34 — with just four made 3's between the two clubs in the first 20 minutes. The Lumberjacks scored 12 second chance points in the half, compared to Eastern's 0.
"The second chance points killed us."
The game was tied five times in the second half — at 39, 56, 59, 60 and 61 — and neither team led by more than 6 until back-to-back 3-pointers by EWU's Jake Kyman and Ethan Price gave the Eags a 7-point advantage with 3:05 remaining.
Just as it looked like Eastern was taking control, they lost their scoring touch again, with NAU scoring the game's final 14 points. Trent McLaughlin, who has been red hot of late, scoring 20+ points in five of his last nine games, converted an and-1 to make it 71-66. Oakland Fort, who hit the game-winning buzzer beater against EWU in the Big Sky Tournament last season, hit a deep three with two minutes left to give NAU a 72-71 lead.
EWU turned the ball over four times in the final three minutes, finishing with 14 giveaways.
"We looked a little hesitant. We were second-guessing our passes and had some silly turnovers," Riley continued. "We've got to be a little more confident offensively but again, the defensive issue is what we've got to get shored up."
NAU's last win regular season win over EWU was in March of 2017. The Eagles had won 14 of the last 15 head-to-head matchups entering Thursday.
"We've got to stay focused on what matters. What matters is our defense. What matters is getting ready for Boise."
NAU big man Carson Basham led all players with 21 points (on 9-13 shooting) and 14 rebounds, adding 6 blocks and 2 assists. Fort finished with 19 points and McLaughlin with 14. Five Eagles scored in double figures, led by Casey Jones with 17.
Eastern shot just 7-for-24 from beyond the 3-point arc (29.2%) and made 12-of-19 free throws.
EWU will have a healthy test of that defense when they head to Greeley, Colo. on Saturday to take on Player of the Year candidate Saint Thomas and the second-place Northern Colorado Bears, who are just one game behind the Eagles in the standings at 10-4 in conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. PT.
Eastern's next home game is Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Montana, followed by the regular season home finale on Saturday, March 2 vs. Montana State. Tickets for both of those games and all EWU Athletics events are available at goeags.com/tickets or via the EWU Athletics Ticket Office at 509-359-6059.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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