FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- Gabe Rogers scored 24 points and Northern Arizona held Idaho State to just 20 points in the second half in a 67-58 victory on Thursday night.
Northern Arizona (11-17, 8-9 Big Sky) also got 13 points from DeWayne Russell and 12 points and six assists from Stallon Saldivar.
Northern Arizona had an 18-7 edge in points off turnovers and a 16-6 scoring average off the bench.
Idaho State (5-22, 4-13) was led by Melvin Morgan, who scored 17 points. Andre Hatchett scored 12 points and Tomas Sanchez had 10 points and four steals.
The Lumberjacks held the Bengals to just three field goals in the
second half.
“I thought our defense in the second half was pretty good to hold them to three baskets,” said NAU coach Jack Murphy. “The defense really got us kickstarted in the second half and it got us stops.”
The two teams were within a basket on the scoreboard for the first eight minutes of the second half before NAU went on a 5-0 run to gain separation after the score was tied at 47.
Rogers was an efficient 9 for 16 from the field with four 3-pointers to reach double digits for the 13th straight game.
“We talked about who was going to set screens to get Gabe open,” Murphy said of the second-half gameplan. “Whether Gabe is scoring or not, we need him to touch the basketball, because the entire defense shifts to Gabe when he gets it.”
Idaho State shot just 15 percent in the second half after shooting a blistering 54 percent (13 for 24) in the first 20 minutes. The Bengals stayed in the game at the charity stripe, outscoring NAU 24-7 for the game, including a 14-for-18 mark in the second half.
Rogers opened the game with 12 points early in the contest and totaled 17 in the first half as the Lumberjacks built a 10-point lead at 29-19 with 7:33 left. Idaho State finished the half on an 11-0 run and led 38-35 entering the locker room.
"We had to come together as a team and figure out what we wanted to do,” said Murphy. “We had given up 23 rebounds and were 1 of 5 at the line in the first half. Rebounding and making your free throws is just mental toughness.”
