College Basketball: Lumberjacks dominate Alabama State 74-46 - The Prescott Daily Courier

PRESCOTT VALLEY - Other than DeAngelo Jones' blown breakaway dunk attempt in the final seconds of regulation, the Northern Arizona men's basketball team's Yavapai County debut versus Alabama State pretty much followed the Lumberjacks' game plan.

NAU, which played a "home" game in Prescott Valley for the first time in program history Tuesday, shot 46 percent from the field - including 60 percent from 3-point land - forced 21 turnovers and made 19 of 24 free-throw attempts in a 74-46 win at Tim's Toyota Center.

The Lumberjacks' Eric Platt, who had a game-high 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting with four 3-pointers, said while Jones, a 6-foot-5 reserve guard from Seattle, wasn't teased all that much in the locker room after the game, he should prepare himself.

"I don't know if it was too much in there, but on the bus ride back, and throughout the week, he'll get it for sure," said Platt, whose open 3-pointer from the right wing with 9:56 left in the first half opened up a 24-9 lead. "It'll keep coming up here and there all season."

NAU (1-2) and Alabama State each opened the season with losses to Iowa State and Creighton as part of the World Sports Hy-Vee Challenge, but it was clear from the start the Hornets (0-3) were in for a long night.

Alabama State didn't score from the field until the 13:58 mark of the first half on a Shareif Adamu putback. That cut the NAU lead to 14-6.

ASU was able to get the score to 16-9 with a Kaylim Noel 3-pointer from the right corner on its next touch, but that was as close as the Hornets would get as the Jacks then went on a 15-4 run over the next 6:58.

NAU led 37-20 at the half.

"I thought we really took the game to them in the beginning," NAU coach Mike Adras said. "We came out, executed on offense and we really caused a lot of problems for them defensively."

He added, "I didn't know how we were going to respond. I mean, we had just played (Creighton) in Omaha on Sunday afternoon and guys were taking tests yesterday and today. I was fidgety on the bus ride down here, I'll tell you that.

"But I am really, really pleased on how they stepped up and performed tonight."

NAU guard Cameron Jones chipped in 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting to go along five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Reserve guard Gabe Rogers was 4 for 5 from beyond the arc on his way to 12 points.

Noel led the Hornets with 13 points, while Patrick Davis had 12.