Magic runs out on Lumberjacks in Big Sky title game

(AP Photo/Steve Conner)

Boise, ID.

Northern Arizona put up a good fight.

The Lumberjacks entered the Big Sky Tournament here in Boise as the 9th seed. They dispatched top-seed Eastern Washington and then disposed of Montana to get into the title game Wednesday night against second-seed Montana State. A win over the Bobcats would’ve sent NAU into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000.
However, my two-block snowy walk to the arena was a prelude to the shooting by the Lumberjacks at Idaho Central Arena. Cold. I mean ice cold. The ‘jacks started out down 8-0 to the favored Bobcats, while they would make pushes, they would never get over the top in the Big Sky title game, falling 85-78.