The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-20) welcome the Weber State Wildcats (19-7), the Big Sky’s best team, to Walkup Skydome. Action starts at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The Lumberjacks come into this game on a high note after defeating Idaho State 81-68 on Thursday. Ako Kaluna was the team’s high scorer with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting. The Wildcats, meanwhile, are coming off an 87-83 win against Southern Utah on Thursday. Joel Bolomboy claimed his 23rd double-double of the season with 34 points and 10 rebounds.
Second-chance points might be scarce for the Lumberjacks in this matchup. They rank 341st in the nation in offensive rebounding (OR% of 22.5%), while Weber State is ninth-best in the nation on the defensive glass (DR% of 76.3%). Moreover, the 32nd-ranked offense of the Wildcats (offensive efficiency of 113.8) will try to exploit the 347th-ranked defense of the Lumberjacks (defensive efficiency of 114.4).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Wildcats won the first game 76-66. Bolomboy put up 17 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lumberjacks enter the game with records of 5-20 Straight Up (SU) and 6-14 Against The Spread (ATS). The Lumberjacks have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 75.1 points during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 69.5 points per game. Northern Arizona’s defense has put it all together in the past 10 games. Its average points allowed per game dropped to 66.0 during that span, compared to its 82.6 season average.
On the other side, the Wildcats have records of 12-11-1 ATS and 19-7 SU. Weber State has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record. During the last 10 games, they averaged 69.4 PPG, below their 78.6 PPG season average. The Wildcats convert their shots at a high percentage, ranking 16th in the country at .487. The last 10 games have really brought the worst out of the Wildcats on the defensive end. They allowed 85.3 points per game during that span, which is higher than their season average of 66.7. The Weber State defense has been a problem for competitors, allowing only 5.0 field goals from three-point range per game. Defensive rebounding is an area where Weber State has excelled. The Wildcats average 24.3 defensive rebounds per game, making them one of the best in the nation.
The Wildcats’ win over Northern Arizona in their last clash bumped their SU record over their most recent meetings to 8-2. The Lumberjacks hold the advantage ATS with a record of 6-4. Northern Arizona and Weber State each held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers once over the last five matchups.
Predictions: SU Winner – Web, ATS Winner – Web
Notes
“Northern Arizona is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games “.
“Northern Arizona is 3-17 SU in its last 20 games “.
“The total has gone OVER in 8 of Northern Arizona’s last 11 games “.
“Northern Arizona is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home”.
“Northern Arizona is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home”.
“Northern Arizona is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games at home”.
“Northern Arizona is 2-14 SU in its last 16 games when playing Weber State”.
“The total has gone OVER in 6 of Northern Arizona’s last 8 games when playing Weber State”.
“Northern Arizona is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Weber State”.
“The total has gone OVER in 9 of Northern Arizona’s last 12 games when playing at home against Weber State”.
Northern Arizona scores an average of just 69.5 points per game (ranked 204th). Weber State ranks 52nd in points allowed, giving up 66.7 points per game.
Weber State scores 75.0 points per away game (ranked 60th). Northern Arizona ranks a poor 250th in points allowed at home, allowing 78.3 points.
Ranked 32nd, the Weber State Wildcats have an offensive rating of 113.8. The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks rank 347th with a defensive rating of just 114.4.
The Weber State Wildcats have one of the best field goal percentages this season, ranking 16th in the nation with a FG% of 48.7%. When their opponents record a similar or higher FG%, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks are winless with a 0-12 record.
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and the Weber State Wildcats both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. Northern Arizona is 327th and 300th in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Weber State is 16th and ninth in these categories.
Weber State, the 65th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 38.7 rebounds per game. Northern Arizona does worse, ranked 312th with 32.8.
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks make an average of 6.3 steals per game. When the Weber State Wildcats allow 6 or more steals, they are a solid 8-5.
