Weber State basketball: Wildcats dominate paint against NAU

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Nick Hansen scored 17 points and Damian Lillard added 16 as Weber State beat Northern Arizona 87-62 Saturday night.

The Wildcats (10-7, 4-1 Big Sky) blew open a close game with a 21-7 run in the second half that put them ahead 71-52 with 5:51 remaining.

Weber State led 42-31 at halftime after shooting 53.3 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Wildcats outscored the Lumberjacks 22-10 in the paint in the first half, and 42-14 overall.

Weber State also outrebounded Northern Arizona 43-31 for the game.

The Lumberjacks (7-9, 1-4) got within 43-41 after opening the second half on a 10-1 run before Weber State pulled away.

NAU struggled in the second half, shooting just 30 percent (7 of 23) from the field. For the game, the Lumberjacks shot 36 percent (18 for 50).

Cameron Jones led NAU with 16 points and Gabe Rogers added 13.

Weber State had five players score in double figures. Behind Hansen's 17 and Lillard's 16, Kyle Bullinger added 13, Franklin Session had 11 and reserve big man Trevor Morris had 10 points and nine rebounds.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 72, SOUTHERN UTAH 62: At Cedar City, Southern Utah couldn't complete a big rally and the Thunderbirds came up just short as they rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit, pulling to within four points before eventually losing 72-62 in Summit League action.

Southern Utah chipped away at the lead, however. Ryan Brimley hit a pair of deep 3-pointers and Jake Nielson hit another, and SUU was able to grab a handful of defensive rebounds and with 11:23 to go Davis Baker hit two free throws to cut the Thunderbird deficit back to 10 points, at 54-44.

Baker and freshman center Matt Hodgson led the Thunderbirds with 16 points each, while Brimley chipped in 10.

UTAH VALLEY 48, CHICAGO STATE 43: At Orem, Corey Claitt had a game-high 20 points in the Great West Conference opener for both teams.

Jordain Scoubes added nine points and eight rebounds for Utah Valley (7-8, 1-0).

Chicago State (5-12, 0-1) was led by Carl Montgomery's double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds. Victor Scott added 12 points.