Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
'Cats host Northern Arizona Saturday night
2/6/2026 2:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Wildcats and Lumberjacks tipoff at 7 p.m. Saturday night.
• Weber State is back in the Dee Events Center on Saturday night to host Northern Arizona. The Wildcats and Lumberjacks will tipoff at 7:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. WSU radio broadcast will be on 103.1 FM "The Coast".
• Weber State is coming off an 88-74 loss to Northern Colorado on Thursday night. The Wildcat were just 2 of 17 from 3-point range, while the Bears knocked down 11 3-pointers and shot 59 percent from the field.
WSU is 11-13 overall and 5-6 in Big Sky play. Northern Arizona is 9-15 overall and 3-8 in conference action and is coming off a win at Idaho State on Thursday night.
• Weber State guard Tijan Saine Jr. once again led the Wildcats in scoring as he finished with 24 points on Thursday. He played all 40 minutes and was also 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Saine has led Weber State in scoring in the last seven games and has led the 'Cats in nine of the 11 Big Sky games. He has scored 20 or more points in eight of 11 conference games.
Saine leads the Big Sky in scoring in conference games at 21.5 points per game. Overall this season, he has scored in double figures 19 times and reached 20 or more 10 times.
He leads Weber State in scoring at 16.5 points per game and is second in the league in free throw percentage at 88 percent. He is shooting 90.3 percent in conference games.
He is also third in the Big Sky in assist to turnover ratio and ranks sixth in assists.
• Senior Nigel Burris started once again on Thursday and scored 16 points, his 12th time reaching double figures this season. Burris is averaging 10.3 points per game on the season, and 11.3 in conference games. He is shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
• Viljami Vartiainen reached double figures again with 16 points and made Weber State's only two 3-pointers on Thursday.
Vartiainen is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. He is also second in the Big Sky in 3-pointers per game at 2.8 and is third in 3-point percentage at 40.2 percent.
On Thursday he moved past Jordan Richardson and now ranks ninth in Weber State history with 153 career 3-pointers. He has played in 84 games in his three year Wildcat career.
• Weber State once again had two players out of the lineup on Thursday as Jace Whiting missed his fifth game with a foot injury and is still expected to be out a few more weeks. Sophomore Trevor Hennig missed his third straight game due to illness.
• Weber State gave up 11 3-pointers on Thursday night, the fourth time in the last five games that opponents have made at least 11 3-pointers. Over the last five games, WSU's opponents are averaging 11 made 3-pointers and shooting 48 percent.
• The Wildcats continue to lead the Big Sky in rebounding, averaging 37.7 rebounds per game. WSU is also second in the conference in scoring offense at 82.5 points per game and also rank second in turnover margin and steals. The 'Cats are third in 3-point defense and third in rebounding margin.
• Northern Arizona is coming off a 79-73 win at Idaho State on Thursday night. The Lumberjacks shot 59 percent from the field and made 10 3-pointers. After starting Big Sky play 0-7, the Lumberjacks have won three of their last four games.
The Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky in 3-point percentage, shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range, and 39 percent in conference games. NAU is also first in the conference in turnover margin at +1.4. They rank fourth in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and steals.
• The Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks 78-65 on January 8 in Flagstaff. Weber State made 13 3-pointers and held the 'Jacks to 6 of 25 from 3-point range. WSU had five players in double figures, led by Viljami Vartiainen with 16 points and four 3-pointers.
WSU is is 92-30 all-time against NAU, and the 92 wins are the most by the Wildcats against any opponent in its history. Weber State is 54-8 all-time against the Lumberjacks at home and the 'Cats have won 11 straight against NAU in Ogden. Northern Arizona's last win in the Dee Events Center was in February 2015.
• The Wildcats return to the road next week at Idaho on Thursday and at Eastern Washington on Saturday.
