7/7/2011 12:05:00 AM
College Basketball: NAU to return to Prescott Valley
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Northern Arizona University men's basketball coach Mike Adras left the door wide open for a return to Prescott Valley after last fall's 74-46 win over Alabama State at Tim's Toyota Center.
"This was a wonderful deal. There were so many people behind the scenes, the community here, the people who run Tim's Toyota Center, worked with NAU administration, our people, marketing, alumni association, and all of that to put on what I thought was a good event," Adras said after the game. "Hopefully, maybe this becomes an annual thing."
His hopes, along with those of the area's Lumberjacks fans, were answered this week when the Valley-based Idol Sports & Entertainment announced the Jacks will return to Tim's on Nov. 30 to take on perennial national power BYU.
"We are excited to play in Prescott for the second consecutive season against a quality BYU team that had a great run in the NCAA Tournament this past year," Adras said in a press release. "It should be a great game for us to play a school that has a lot of fans in the state of Arizona. It will be an exciting game in a beautiful venue."
BYU coach Dave Rose, whose team went to the NCAA tournament's Sweet Sixteen last spring, and won a school-record 32 games last season, is just as pumped up to play in Prescott Valley.
"We're looking forward to a great game against Northern Arizona. Idol Sports & Entertainment has done a great job putting this game together," he said. "We're excited for the opportunity to give our fans in Arizona the opportunity to see us play."
NAU also played in the postseason in the spring. The Jacks were invited to the CollegeInsider.com tournament, but lost to eventual champ Santa Clara.
The Jacks have built a reputation over the years as superior perimeter shooters. Led by second-team All-Big Sky selection Gabe Rogers, whose 46.8 3-point field goal percentage was fifth in the nation last season, NAU finished up as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the nation.
This will be the teams' second meeting in 65 years. NAU won the 1946 contest 54-31.
Tickets will go on sale in September, and will be available for purchase through GetTix.net.
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Keith Jiron
Prescott Daily Courier
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July 6, 2011 03:06
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