FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — In a thrilling basketball matchup on Saturday night, Jaron Rillie led Northern Colorado to a victory over Northern Arizona with an impressive 20-point performance, culminating in an 83-73 win.
This win sees Northern Colorado move into a tie for the top spot in the conference standings alongside Montana, which suffered an overtime defeat against Portland State the same evening. With only one game remaining in the regular season, Northern Colorado stands strong at a 22-8 overall record and 14-3 in the Big Sky Conference.
Rillie was pivotal for the Bears, also grabbing seven rebounds in addition to his scoring efforts. His teammate, Langston Reynolds, also played a key role, contributing 20 points with a sharp 7-of-9 shooting from the field and an impressive 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. Reynolds added five rebounds to his stat line, further bolstering the team’s performance.
Another solid contributor was Isaiah Hawthorne, who scored 16 points. Hawthorne shot 6-of-9 from the field, including hitting 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and successfully made 3-of-5 free throws.
On the other side of the court, Northern Arizona’s Trenton McLaughlin delivered a spectacular performance, finishing with 35 points and three steals. He was supported by Jayden Jackson, who added 15 points to the Lumberjacks’ effort. Carson Towt also made a significant impact, securing nine points, 14 rebounds, and four steals, showcasing both defensive and offensive skills.
