Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Weber State Defeats Northern Arizona, 59-54 On The Road
1/24/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Don't tell the Weber State Wildcats nothing in this life is for free. The Wildcats hit 24-31 free throws, including 7-8 in the last 1:33, to defeat Northern Arizona, 59-54 before 1,556 inside NAU's Walkup SkyDome in Flagstaff, Arizona on Saturday night.
NAU's defense held the Wildcats to just 15-38 (.394) shooting from the field and 5-17 from the three-point arc, tied them in rebounds at 27 each, but couldn't take overcome WSU's free throws. The Lumberjacks were 10-14 from the stripe.
"This game wasn't for the faint of heart," said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. "Every possession was precious. I thought our defense in the second half picked up. Daviin Davis did a nice job of controlling Cameron Jones and didn't allow him to get many open looks. It was another one of those games where we were hanging around at the end and trying make something positive happen and it did. I am really proud of our team togetherness and our mental toughness right now."
It was a 28-28 tie at half time. NAU's Cameron Jones scored 14 of his teams' 28 in the stanza while the Wildcats spread the wealth around. Nick Hansen scored nine of his 11 in the first half and Steve Panos had eight of his 10.
The second half was a seesaw battle. NAU took its biggest, and last, lead of the game at the 10:27 mark on a jumper by Josh Wilson to go up 45-43. The Wildcats then went on a 5-0 run - all free throws - to take a 48-45 lead with 5:37 remaining.
NAU cut the lead down to 48-46 on a free throw by Zarko Comagic at 4:05, but two free throws by Damian Lillard seconds later put the ?Cats back up by four. Comagic then drilled a long three-pointer with 2:21 left pulling the Lumberjacks back to within one at 50-49 which is where the Wildcat free throw parade began with Lillard making two more at the 1:33 mark, followed by a lay up by Daviin Davis with 45 seconds left, increasing the lead to five at 54-49. The basket by Davis was WSU's only two-point hoop in the last 12:41 of the game.
Nick Larson's two free throws with 31 seconds remaining brought NAU back to within three at 54-51, but WSU went back up by five 12 seconds later on two free throws from Kellen McCoy.
With 10 seconds left, Josh Wilson's deep three-ball made it a two-point game at 56-54. Kellen McCoy was immediately fouled on the inbounds and with nine seconds left, he made two more free throws, giving the ?Cats a 58-54 lead. Wilson then missed a three-pointer with three seconds left and the ball went out of bounds. NAU the fouled Daviin Davis with two seconds left. He made one of two to ice the game.
The loss tumbles Northern Arizona to 5-14 for the season and 2-6 in Big Sky play. Cameron Jones led the Lumberjacks with a game high 21 points and Josh Wilson added 12.
Weber State had four players in double figure scoring led by Kellen McCoy's 12, nine in the second half. Nick Hansen and Damian Lillard each chipped in with 11 and Steve Panos came out of a mini-scoring slump hitting 3-4 from the field, 4-4 from the line for 10 points. Lillard led the Wildcats in rebounding with seven. The Wildcats are now 12-8 overall and 6-1 in Big Sky Conference play, tied with Portland State (6-1). Montana, Northern Colorado and Idaho State are each 4-3.
Next week is "Bengal Week." Weber State and arch-rival Idaho State face each other within a 48-hour span. On Thursday, January 29, the Wildcats trek northward to Pocatello for a 7:05 p.m (MST) tip inside Holt Arena. On Saturday, January 31, the Bengals trek southward for a 7:05 p.m. tip inside the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
