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Montana Grizzlies Overcome Northern Arizona in Big Sky Conference Opener
Northern Arizona University’s men’s basketball team faced a tough start to thier Big Sky Conference campaign, falling to the Montana Grizzlies 78-64 in missoula on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Despite a promising first half, the Lumberjacks struggled to maintain their offensive momentum, ultimately succumbing to a strong second-half performance from the defending conference tournament champions.
The Lumberjacks (6-8, 0-1 Big Sky) saw their shooting percentage plummet to 34.6% after the break, a stark contrast to the 50.0% efficiency displayed in the first half. NAU finished the game shooting 42.6% from the field, while Montana connected on 53.8% of their attempts.
“If we won tonight, we didn’t win the big Sky and we didn’t lose the Big Sky tonight,” stated the Lumberjacks’ head coach, Shane Burcar. “it’s an 18-game race and we can’t lose sight of that. Give credit to Montana; they beat us tonight.”
NAU entered halftime tied with Montana, but the Grizzlies capitalized on the Lumberjacks’ cold shooting in the second half, mounting an effective offensive attack. Montana shot an impressive 60.0% in the final 20 minutes, securing their sixth consecutive victory over Northern Arizona.
Ryan Abelman led the Lumberjacks in scoring with 13 points, while Chris Komin added 10, marking his second double-digit performance of the season and first against a Division I opponent. NAU demonstrated balanced scoring,with six players contributing eight or more points.However, Montana countered with five players reaching double figures.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, featuring seven lead changes and seven ties. NAU briefly took a 12-11 lead after a floater by Kavon Bradford, but a 9-2 run by Montana gave the Grizzlies their largest lead of the half, 20-14.The Lumberjacks responded with consecutive 3-pointers from Brennan peterson and Isaiah Shaw to tie the score. A 3-pointer by Ryan Abelman gave NAU a 28-25 advantage, which they held until the final seconds before Montana tied it up with two second-chance baskets.All nine Lumberjacks scored in the first half, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.
The second half saw Montana quickly take control. Traivar Jackson tied the score at 41-41 with a layup, but Montana responded with a 7-0 run, holding NAU scoreless for nearly three minutes. despite a late push that narrowed an eight-point deficit to 53-50 thanks to free throws from Komin, the Lumberjacks were unable to regain momentum. Montana maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the final six minutes.
Despite the loss, NAU narrowly outrebounded Montana 30-29, with Traivar Jackson recording a game-high 10 rebounds and coming close to a double-double with eight points.This marked the first time in six games that the Lumberjacks lost despite winning the rebounding battle.
According to Burcar, the key difference in the game came down to shooting efficiency in the second half, with Montana making six more shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, than NAU. “We need to make shots and that’s the bottom line,” he emphasized. “It’s an even game. We beat them in rebounding, free throw attempts we beat them by one, so the physicality was there.Ultimately, it’s that simple. We have guys who can make shots.”
the Lumberjacks will look to even their Big Sky Conference record on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with a road game against Montana State in Bozeman, Montana. Tip-off at Worthington Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST. Fans can follow Northern Arizona men’s basketball on X and instagram for updates.
