NAU returns home to face Idaho State, Weber State

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Northern Arizona men's basketball team returns home to face Idaho State on Thursday and Weber State on Saturday.

Thursday's game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona Plus, starting at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday's game will be live on FOX Sports Arizona, starting at 4 p.m.

The young Lumberjacks (4-20, 2-11 Big Sky) have struggled while playing seven freshman among their usual nine-player rotation. Juniors Kris Yanku (15.0) and Ako Kaluna (11.2) are the only Lumberjacks averaging double-figure scoring.

NAU was swept on the road by Montana and Montana State last week. Yanku, who has been coming off the bench for the last three games, scored 21 points in each game.

Idaho State (13-11, 8-4) comes to Flagstaff with a three-game winning streak, but the Bengals have won just two of six road games against Big Sky opponents. The Bengals got 30 points from Geno Luzcando to defeat NAU 88-66 last month in Pocatello. Idaho State's Ethan Telfair is third in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game.

Freshman point guard Mike Green scored 22 points in NAU's loss at Idaho State and is averaging 14.8 points per game in his last five outings.

Weber State (18-7, 10-2) is a half-game behind first-place Montana in the Big Sky standings. The Wildcats defeated NAU 76-66 last month in Ogden, getting 17 points and 15 rebounds from Joel Bolomboy. Bolomboy has 22 double-doubles while averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, and Jeremy Senglin leads the Wildcats in scoring with 18.4 points per game.

Weber State has won its last seven games in Flagstaff.