The schedule isn't getting any easier for the Lumberjacks.
After a 3-0 homestand against what was then the top three teams in the Big Sky Conference, the NAU men's basketball team takes on Weber State tonight in Ogden, Utah. The Wildcats (12-9 overall, 6-4 Big Sky) find themselves tied with the Jacks (14-8, 6-4) for third place in the conference standings and tonight's winner gets a step further to the top of the Big Sky.
"It's a big game for both of us," NAU coach Mike Adras said. "One team stays in the race and the other one ... (has) a little bit different (road)."
Although the Jacks are riding a four-game winning streak, the Wildcats are 6-2, including their 68-67 win in Flagstaff last month. The two squads are the hottest teams in the Big Sky after toppling Northern Colorado and the Montana schools last week and the Jacks wouldn't want to face anyone else at this point.
"They've done the exact same thing we did by beating those three teams at home," senior guard Eric Platt said. "I think having another big game is probably the best thing for us. We don't really want to (face) a team that's not contending -- I think we keep playing at a high level and we keep playing these good teams, it's just going to make us better."
After holding their last three opponents to 49.3 points per game, the Jacks are playing their best defense of the season and know they can handle Weber State's offense better this time around. On Jan. 8, the Wildcats' Lindsey Hughey nailed a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to give Weber State the lead for good. It's going to be another contested game for sure, Platt said, but NAU will perform at a higher level this time around.
"I think we're a better team than we were last time we played them but they're a better team than the last time they played us," Platt said. "It could be a coin-flip, but the way we've been playing, we're pretty confident in our abilities but we know what they're capable of, too."
Making things tougher for NAU, though, is Weber State's 19-game winning streak in conference games in Ogden, where the Jacks haven't won since the 2007-08 season.
"Even though I majored in history, I'm trying to not look at what's happened in the past," Adras said with a laugh. "I'm only trying to look at what's going to happen (tonight)."
Still, Weber State marks NAU's third straight revenge game after tying its the regular season series against the Montana schools last week.
"We're pretty motivated to play them," senior guard Cameron Jones said. "They're tied with us right now, and they beat us in a heartbreak game, so I think we're pretty anxious."
Guarding center Trevor Morris, who went 6 of 7 from the field in last matchup, is one person the Jacks have to do a better job at guarding, Adras said. He and NAU forward Shane Johannsen shared the Big Sky player of the week award on Monday.
"Morris really hurt us the last time they were here. He had seven field goals in that game and a lot of them were from the perimeter," Adras said. "We have to do a better job of not letting him get going so easily early in the ballgame."
Even after three high-intensity games last week, the Jacks are more than eager to claim their fifth-straight victory and finding the energy to win shouldn't be a problem.
"I'd rather play games than practice," Jones said. "There's really no effect. There's only so many more games left (in the season) and we want to win."
Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.
