Stanford seems to close down high-scoring Northern Arizona

A pair of 2-0 side square off when Northern Arizona visits Stanford on Tuesday.

The Lumberjacks come into the game against the Cardinal having scored more than 100 points in each of their two home games against non-Division I competition.

They beat Park-Gilbert, an NAIA school, by a score of 100-49 and defeated Nelson (Arizona) of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association by a final of 115-67.

Northern Arizona followed a 52-point first half vs. Nelson on Friday by scoring 63 in the second half.

“I thought we played well (against the Lions), coming out of the half we figured it out and … that says a lot about the young men in that locker room,” said Northern Arizona coach Shane Burcar, whose team was led by Trent McLaughlin’s 30 points.

Playing Stanford on the road will be a challenge, as the Cardinal are coming off home routs of Division I opponents Denver and Cal State Fullerton.

Stanford defeated Denver 85-62 in the season opener, and then beat Fullerton 80-53 on Friday.

Benny Gealer (20 points) and Jaylen Blakes (18) each recorded career-high scoring totals in the win over the Titans.

Gealer, a junior, scored all of his points in the second half while making six 3-pointers.

Blakes is a graduate transfer from Duke who also had five assists with no turnovers.

Cal State Fullerton mustered only two assists in the game while committing 14 turnovers.

“Really pleased with the way our guys competed,” Stanford first-year coach Kyle Smith said. “We were relentless defensively I felt the whole game. Holding a team to two assists is just good. Period.

“I’d say that’s part of our identity. When we get tired, we gotta defend, we gotta create an identity. We’re gonna be stingy.”

Gealer leads Stanford with an average of 16 points a game.

Senior forward Maxime Raynaud, who entered the transfer portal after last season but decided to return, is averaging 15 points and 13 rebounds.

McLaughlin is putting up 28.5 points and 3.5 steals per game for Northern Arizona.

–Field Level Media