Northern Arizona Tops Southern Utah in Close Contest
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 65, Southern Utah Thunderbirds 57, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs Northern Arizona Lumberjacks?
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks beat Southern Utah Thunderbirds 65-57 at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on December 18, 2025.
Who was favored in Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs Northern Arizona Lumberjacks?
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -258 (about 72% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks defeated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 65-57 at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on December 19, 2025. This victory marks a significant moment for the Lumberjacks, who have struggled recently, entering the game on a four-game losing streak. The win improves their record to 6-6, while the Thunderbirds fall to 4-10.
The Lumberjacks, despite their recent form, showcased a resilient performance against the Thunderbirds. Over their last ten games, Northern Arizona had a record of 4-6, averaging 73.4 points scored per game but allowing 74.9 points. Their recent struggles included losses to teams like the San Diego Toreros and Arizona State Sun Devils. However, their home record has been stronger, sitting at 4-1, which includes a notable win against Southeast Missouri State.
Conversely, Southern Utah has also faced challenges, entering the game with a 4-9 record. They have averaged 81.7 points scored per game while allowing 81.2 points in their last ten outings. Their recent form has been mixed, with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, but they have lost their last two matches, including a heavy defeat against the Washington Huskies. Southern Utah's away record stands at 1-6, indicating their struggles on the road.
In their previous meeting earlier in the season, Northern Arizona had triumphed over Southern Utah with a score of 83-75, giving the Lumberjacks a 1-0 advantage in their head-to-head record for the 2025 season.
The game was played under typical conditions for December basketball, with both teams looking to capitalize on their respective strengths. The market had favored Northern Arizona, with DraftKings setting the odds at NAU -5.5, indicating a belief in their ability to secure a win at home. The total points line was set at 150.5, reflecting expectations of a competitive scoring environment.
In terms of scoring plays, the second half proved crucial for the Lumberjacks. Key moments included a pull-up jump shot from Arne Osojnik that brought the score to 59-53 in favor of Northern Arizona, followed by a series of free throws from Kavon Bradford that helped extend their lead. Southern Utah attempted to close the gap with a driving layup from Lorenzo Abellar, but it was not enough to shift the momentum.
Injury updates were not provided in the block, but both teams had to navigate their respective challenges throughout the game. Viewers could observe the contrasting styles of play, with Northern Arizona focusing on defensive resilience and Southern Utah relying on their offensive capabilities to keep pace.
Overall, the victory for Northern Arizona not only breaks their losing streak but also reinforces their home advantage, while Southern Utah continues to seek answers as they struggle to find consistency on the road.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NAU -5.5 | 150.5 o -108 / u -112 | Southern Utah Thunderbirds +210 · Northern Arizona Lumberjacks -258 |
Leaders
- PointsRyan Abelman24Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
- AssistsKavon Bradford2Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
- ReboundsKarl Poom7Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
- PointsZach Bell12Southern Utah Thunderbirds
- AssistsZach Bell3Southern Utah Thunderbirds
- ReboundsJaiden Feroah11Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Recent form
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Last 10: 4-6Streak L473.4 scored · 74.9 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L69-78at San Diego TorerosDec 13
- L48-73at Arizona State Sun DevilsDec 10
- L68-69at North Dakota State BisonDec 7
- L62-75vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsDec 4
- W79-72vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksNov 27
- W93-87vs Cal Poly MustangsNov 25
- W108-79vs Embry Riddle (AZ) EaglesNov 19
- L49-84at Arizona WildcatsNov 12
- W87-55vs Justice LionsNov 8
- L71-77at Drake BulldogsNov 3
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Last 10: 4-6Streak L281.7 scored · 81.2 allowed per game1-6 away
- L69-105at Washington HuskiesDec 13
- L70-81at Oregon State BeaversDec 6
- W124-59vs West Coast Baptist EaglesDec 2
- W70-68at Stetson HattersNov 29
- L54-61at Robert Morris ColonialsNov 28
- W103-68vs Nobel KnightsNov 23
- L74-98at Washington State CougarsNov 20
- L50-122at Gonzaga BulldogsNov 18
- L85-90at Omaha MavericksNov 16
- W118-60vs Bethesda FlamesNov 12
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Southern Utah Thunderbirds | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-53 | 24-57 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 5-13 | 6-12 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 50 |
| Free throws | 8-12 | 11-17 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 26 |
| Assists | 9 | 9 |
| Steals | 3 | 11 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 30 |
| Fouls | 18 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 47 | 43 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-23Lorenzo Abellar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half28-23Lorenzo Abellar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half28-24Isaiah Shaw makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half28-25Isaiah Shaw makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half30-25Cale Barclay makes layup
- 1st Half30-27Isaiah Shaw makes driving layup
- 1st Half31-27Zach Bell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half32-27Zach Bell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half32-30Ryan Abelman makes 23-foot three point jumper (Oakland Fort assists)
- 2nd Half35-30Tanner Hayhurst makes 23-foot three point jumper (Elijah Duval assists)
- 2nd Half35-32Karl Poom makes layup
- 2nd Half37-32Elijah Duval makes layup
- 2nd Half37-34Ryan Abelman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-36Traivar Jackson makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half39-36Isaiah Cottrell makes 2-foot dunk (Zach Bell assists)
- 2nd Half39-38Ryan Abelman makes layup
- 2nd Half40-38Zach Bell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-41Kavon Bradford makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chris Komin assists)
- 2nd Half42-41Zach Bell makes 5-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half42-43Zack Davidson makes layup (Ryan Abelman assists)
- 2nd Half44-43Cale Barclay makes layup
- 2nd Half44-45Zack Davidson makes layup
- 2nd Half44-46Ryan Abelman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-49Ryan Abelman makes 25-foot three point jumper (Karl Poom assists)
- 2nd Half44-51Chris Komin makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half46-51Elijah Duval makes layup
- 2nd Half46-54Ryan Abelman makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chris Komin assists)
- 2nd Half46-56Traivar Jackson makes layup (Karl Poom assists)
- 2nd Half46-57Traivar Jackson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half48-57Lorenzo Abellar makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-57Lorenzo Abellar makes 12-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half53-57Jaiden Feroah makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lorenzo Abellar assists)
- 2nd Half53-59Arne Osojnik makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half55-59Zach Bell makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half55-61Ryan Abelman makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Kavon Bradford assists)
- 2nd Half55-62Kavon Bradford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-63Kavon Bradford makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-63Lorenzo Abellar makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-64Chris Komin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-65Chris Komin makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, below favours Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
Venue
- J. Lawrence Walkup SkydomeFlagstaff, AZ
- Attendance412
- OfficialsBret Smith, Matthew Rukasin, Jason Garretson
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond