Nick Larson has no problem admitting it. His statistics from his first three seasons at NAU were not all that impressive.
"I was a role guy and I have no problem being a role guy," the senior from Ventura, Calif., said. "If the team needed me to be a role guy this year, I would have gladly accepted it. But, as a senior it seemed like it was time to step up and take some of the load."
And, that's exactly what Larson has done in his final season in Flagstaff.
Larson, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, blended in during his first three seasons with the Lumberjacks.
As a freshman, he played in 29 games, averaging 6.1 minutes per game and 1.1 points per contest.
As a sophomore, he played in all 32 games, with seven starts and averaged 2.8 points per game and 2.8 rebounds. Last year, he again played in all of the team's games, but averaged just 3.1 points per game and 3 rebounds a contest.
His career high for points coming into the year was the nine he scored last year against Pepperdine and his career high rebounds were seven.
"Nick has always been very skilled, but he just never knew when to do things and when not to do things," NAU coach Mike Adras said.
That definitely hasn't been a problem this year.
Larson has started the past nine games for the Jacks and is averaging 7.8 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. He's come on even more of late.
In his last four games, Larson is averaging 11.5 points per game and grabbing 8.5 rebounds. During that stretch, Larson had his first career double-double against Northern New Mexico, scoring 11 points and adding 11 rebounds. One game later, he scored a career-high 20 points in a loss to Northern Colorado.
Larson also leads NAU in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and free-throw percentage (92.3)
"You always expect your seniors to step up and be leaders of the team because they've been around the block a few times," Adras said. "So, I think we're seeing a young man who is extremely comfortable with what is going on around him on the floor and he knows what he's supposed to be doing.
"He just sees things a lot easier. It's not like anything is surprising him out there. Because he's more comfortable with what's happening on the floor, he's playing better."
Larson is no doubt enjoying being a bigger producer and has enjoyed his larger role, but he would trade the production for wins. In his first two years at NAU, the Jacks went a combined 39-23 and advanced to the Big Sky Conference Tournament title game both years.
In the past season and a half, the Jacks are just 15-28 and missed out on the conference tournament last year and are off to just a 1-4 start in league play this year.
"It is fun being a little more active and scoring more, but I wish we were winning," Larson said. "We have 11 games left and we all want to make the best of it and go out winners."
Larson and the Jacks will try to begin that 11-game stretch with a road victory when they visit Eastern Washington tonight in Cheney, Wash.
The Eagles come into today's matchup with a 6-11 record and a 2-2 mark in Big Sky play and are coming off a 75-73 road win at Montana State.
Their strength so far this season has been their play on a perimeter. Paced by freshmen Glen Dean and Jeffrey Forbes, the Eagles have been able to fill it up from outside. Dean and Forbes are averaging a combined 21 points per game.
"Their guards are very good," Adras said. "Dean played outstanding against Montana State. I'd have to think about it a little, but he has to be freshman of the year in our league. He's played really well. They have some other guards that can shoot too and when they shoot well, they are a very dangerous team. They struggled when they haven't shot well.
"It's not like they aren't good inside, but there's more of an emphasis on the perimeter attack. I'm concerned about the perimeter game. That's what scares me right now."
