Some bad chicken didn't spoil the Lumberjacks' chances for their second win.
With several of the men's basketball players suffering after their pre-game meal shortly before tipoff, it was a good thing the Lumberjacks didn't have to exert too much energy in taking down Northern New Mexico 80-49 on Tuesday at the Rolle Activity Center.
A few days after the Jacks (2-3) made significant progress during a 103-42 win against Arizona Christian, it took them a while longer to put away the Eagles, who are winless in 13 games this season. "I felt kind of sick today but I went out and tried to play as hard as I could," redshirt freshman Gaellan Bewernick said. "We came out a little lackadaisical -- some of us aren't feeling too good -- so I figured to play hard and pick up the intensity ... trying to lift everybody's spirits."
Bewernick led by example and had his first career double-double at NAU with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It wasn't as complete an effort as the Friday's win, but it gave the Jacks an opportunity to fight through some adversity that they wouldn't otherwise except facing an NAIA school.
"It taught us something," Bewernick said. "No matter what, how we feel, whatever, we always got to bring it as soon as we step on the court."
NAU coach Mike Adras noticed the Jacks' lapses but didn't place the blame on any food. He said it was a "time-managment issue" as a couple players didn't show up to warm-ups on time and didn't start as a result. But rather than harp on some of the miscues, which were plenty, Adras saw several inspired individual efforts.
"Gaellan was terrific tonight," he said. "He got a steal and dunk early and played consistent throughout most of the ballgame: Rebounding the ball, scoring it around the basket and it's just nice to see him get better and better each and every game."
Michael Dunn and Luis Flores stepped into starting roles vacated by the tardy players and pleased Adras with their effort.
"They did a really nice job for us," Adras said. "If you tell me we're going to get nine assists and two turnovers from those guys ... I'm really, really happy."
The Jacks came out a bit sloppy which allowed the Eagles to stay in the game the majority of the first half.
Freshman James Douglas, who normally starts, came in 11 minutes into the first half and promptly lifted the Jacks with eight-straight points in less than 2 minutes. He finished with 14 points, tied for the team lead with Bewernick. Point guard Stallon Saldivar (11) and Durrell Norman (10) also scored in double figures.
Northern New Mexico shot well enough (48 percent) in the first half to keep itself in the game, despite losing the battle in the paint by a 28-8 margin.
The Jacks played with better consistency after halftime. They dropped the Eagles' shooting percentage to 29.6 in the final 20 minutes and took a 36-point lead before several turnovers cost them a chance to match the 50-plus point differential that Weber State and Montana State saw against Northern New Mexico.
"All in all, you win by 30 points, there's not a lot to complain about," Adras said. "We were in control the entire game. It was never a game where the outcome was in doubt."
Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.
