Northern Arizona, which never trailed for the final 33:25 of the game, shot 55.6 percent (25-45) from the field and 79.1 percent (34-43) from the free-throw line while converting on numerous second-chance buckets because of the large rebounding disparity. Sacramento State almost had as many offensive rebounds (eight) as defensive (nine), and was able to stay in the game by forcing NAU into 25 turnovers. The Lumberjacks took their largest lead of the night at 14 points (72-58) with 5:26 remaining in the contest.

Bazy’s 19 points came on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in just 17 minutes. Joining Bazy in double figure for NAU were Ruben Boykin, Jr. (15 points, 11 rebounds), Ryan McCurdy (15 points, 10 rebounds, and a game-high three blocked shots), Steven Sir (11 points) and Josh Wilson (10 points, five assists). The Lumberjacks took advantage of 29 Sacramento State fouls, going to the free-throw line 14 times in the first half and 29 times in the second half.

With the loss, Sacramento State lost its season-high third-straight game, with those defeats coming to the Big Sky’s first (Northern Arizona), second (Montana) and third (Montana State) place teams. Prior to the losing streak, the Hornets had not lost multiple games in a row all season long. The team has lost the last three games by a combined 11 points. Sacramento State also had won each of its last four Big Sky road games dating back to last season, and had defeated NAU in Flagstaff each of the last three years prior to today’s loss.

The Hornets’ overall record of 13-8 is still the team’s best mark after 21 games in the Div. I era (1991-pres.) and best since the 1988-89 squad began the year 14-7. Sacramento State (4-3 in the Big Sky) will remain on the road next week to face two Big Sky teams (Eastern Washington and Portland State) that it defeated by a combined 35 points earlier this season at the Hornets Nest.

Northern Arizona increased its winning streak to nine game and strengthened its hold atop the Big Sky standings with a perfect 7-0 record. The Lumberjacks, who are now 15-6 overall this season, improved to 10-1 at home and 5-0 against Big Sky squads. NAU was selected to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll and fifth in the media poll, and has won each of its seven conference games by 10 points or less.

The Hornets, who were outscored 39-35 in the first half and 50-48 in the second stanza, had three players in double figures, comprised of junior Alex Bausley (career-high tying 28 points and a team-high tying four rebounds), senior DaShawn Freeman (17 points, four assists and three steals) and junior Haron Hargrave (10 points, 7-of-8 from the charity stripe). Bausley accounted for more than 33 percent of the team’s offense as the forward converted on 11-of-15 shots from the field (2-of-4 from beyond the arc) and 4-of-5 from the stipe. Bausley scored 20 of his points in the second half and is now averaging a team-best 18.3 points per game against conference competition.

In his first start in a Sacramento State uniform, sophomore swingman Justin Williams had seven points and two steals in 18 minutes. Senior Jason Harris, who had 21 points and nine rebounds last Saturday after missing the previous five games, was a non-factor after suffering an ankle injury in practice on Friday. He scored just five points (1-of-4 shooting) with one blocked shot and one steal in 24 minutes of play.

After a layup from Kyle Landry tied the score at 13-13 with 13:25 remaining in the first half, the Lumberjacks never trailed, building a lead as large as 10 points in the first half before the Hornets went on a 10-4 run to go into halftime with a 39-35 deficit. Both teams then exchanged baskets for the first 12 minutes of the second half. After a Bausley layup drew the Hornets within five points (63-58) with 8:08 remaining, NAU responded with a 9-0 run (including a pair of three-pointers from Sir) to take its largest lead of the game at 14 points. Sacramento State was only able to get within four points the Lumberjack lead (87-83 with two seconds remaining) the rest of the way.

Rebounding continues to be a problem for the Hornets as the team has now been outrebounded by more than 10 boards per game (37.9-27.6) against conference competition. Moreover, during the team’s three-game losing streak, the team has been outrebounded by 12.3 boards per game. Sacramento State has been outrebounded in 17 of the team’s 21 games this season, including each of the last 10.

The Hornets wrap up their season-high tying three-game road trip next week as the team travels to Eastern Washington (Thursday, Feb. 2, 7:05 p.m.) and Portland State (Saturday, Feb. 4, 7:05 p.m.). Since joining the Big Sky ranks in 1996-97, Sacramento State has never won in either Cheney, Wash., or Portland, Ore. The Hornets lost by three points at Eastern Washington and by 10 points at Portland State last year.