Weber State basketball: Wildcats win, set up showdown

OGDEN — The showdown is set.

First place in the Big Sky will be on the line Saturday when Weber State hosts Northern Colorado because both teams handled their business on Friday night. The Wildcats mostly dominated Northern Arizona in a 76-66 victory at the Dee Events Center. Northern Colorado, meanwhile, whipped Idaho State 68-59 in Pocatello.

The winner of tonight's game will take a huge step in moving closer to the regular-season conference title and the right to host the postseason tourney. The Wildcats (16-8, 10-2 Big Sky) lead the second-place Bears (20-5, 9-3) by one game in the Big Sky standings.

"It feels good that (tonight) is finally here," said Weber State guard Damian Lillard. "We just couldn't wait to get this game out of the way. We didn't want to overlook them (the Lumberjacks), but it feels good to get the win and get ready for Northern Colorado, be ready for the showdown."

The Wildcats had little trouble in preparing for tonight's showdown, other than allowing Northern Arizona a 9-0 run in the first half and a 10-0 run in the second half. Weber State, however, answered each run with one of its own to maintain control of the game. After Northern Arizona made it 25-24 in the first half, the Wildcats ran off 12 straight points.

When the Lumberjacks got within 42-38 in the second half, Weber State reeled off 13 straight points during an 18-3 run that was capped with a left-handed dunk on a drive by Lillard. Franklin Session contributed a 3-pointer and a three-point play during the game-clinching spurt and Lillard made a 3 and a couple of free throws.

Lillard and Session carried the Wildcats offensively. Lillard had 26 points with five 3-pointers on 9-for-16 shooting. Session had 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting with two 3-pointers.

The Lumberjacks played zone to limit the Wildcats' post touches and Lillard and Session torched them by driving to the basket and making outside shots.

"That (NAU playing zone) gave those guys some opportunities to drive to the rim and make some plays and I thought both those kids did a really nice job of doing that," said Weber State coach Randy Rahe.

The Wildcats also did a nice job of taking possessions away from the Lumberjacks and scoring fast-break points. Weber State had a whopping 16 steals and Northern Arizona committed a total of 19 turnovers. Session had eight steals, which were the most of any Big Sky player in a game this season.