NICEVILLE, Fla. -- Kris Yanku scored 18 points and Ako Kaluna 17 in leading Northern Arizona to a 70-63 overtime victory over Southern in the third round of the Emerald Coast Classic.
Quinton Upshur added 13 points for the Lumberjacks (2-4).
NAU's Aaseem Dixon scored all five of his points and Yanku added four in the extra period to spur the Lumberjacks to the win.
"I thought the guys stuck together well. We battled adversity with foul trouble, but did a good job of battling back. Kris and Ako definitely fought hard in the final minutes," NAU coach Jack Murphy said. "I like the way we responded in overtime. We have our first neutral win under our belt, but tomorrow will be a good challenge versus North Carolina Central."
A 3-pointer and free throw by Yanku had given NAU a 10-point lead with 11:21 left in regulation. But the Jaguars tied the game with 59 seconds left on a basket by Trelun Banks. Kaluna scored off an offensive rebound with 41 seconds left before Tre Lynch's basket with 7 seconds left sent the game into overtime.
Banks scored 14 points and Lynch 13 for Southern (1-5), which made only 3 of 21 3-point attempts.
"It's good to get that second win under your belt," Murphy said. "A 2-4 record is better than a 1-5 record. Kris and Gaellan (Bewernick) led the bench and combined for 25 points today. We need to have contribution from our entire roster to win these kind of games."
Saturday, NAU plays North Carolina Central.
