Lumberjacks upset Montana St. for 1st Big Sky win
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Chris Bowling hit the second of two free throws with 14 seconds left to allow Northern Arizona to hold off Montana State and earn its first Big Sky Conference win of the season, 77-75 on Thursday night.
Joe Mvuezolo Jr. hit a 3 with 15 seconds left to get the Bobcats within two, 75-73, then hit two free throws with four seconds left to make it 76-75, but Montana State never got off another shot.
"I am just so happy for our young men," NAU coach Jack Murphy said. "Our guys battled and fought and we have been so close. The last game against Idaho was about as frustrated as I have been because you play a great team at home, lead for a large portion of the game and don't pull it out. I was really proud of our guys tonight. We know what we have in our team as coaches and I think the players are beginning to know it as well."
Torry Johnson hit a free throw and Gino Littles knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:40 left to put the Lumberjacks in front, 63-59. Littles hit again from deep to make it 70-64 with 3:05 left and Isaiah Thomas converted a three-point play in the final minute and Karl Harris hit the second of two free throws to give Northern Arizona a 75-70 lead.
Johnson finished with 27 points, Littles and Harris each added another 14 and Brooks Debisschop grabbed 10 rebounds for Northern Arizona (4-17, 1-7).
Devonte Klines scored 15 points, Sam Neumann added 14 and Mvuezolo 11 for Montana State (11-10, 4-4).
