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The Northern Arizona men’s basketball team has shown a level of resilience early in the 2024-25 season that it hasn’t in some time, especially after defeats.

Following a loss at Oral Roberts on Wednesday, the Lumberjacks (7-3, 0-0 Big Sky) rolled past South Dakota at Rolle Activity Center, 95-82. It was the third-highest score for the team this season, and the best total against a fellow Division I opponent.

After each of the team’s three defeats this year, Northern Arizona has rebounded to win the next game.

“I think it shows our resolve, shows our connectivity,� forward Carson Towt said.

“I thought we were pretty dominant from the start to the buzzer,� coach Shane Burcar added.

Northern Arizona was productive on offense throughout Saturday’s contest, shooting 56.4% from the floor and 45% from 3-point range. Of the Lumberjacks� 31 baskets, 20 were assisted.

Guard Trent McLaughlin led the Lumberjacks in scoring with 23 points, inching closer to the 1,000-point mark in his Lumberjacks career. He sits at 948 in less than three seasons.

Towt put up a double-double, scoring 10 points to go with 18 rebounds, six assists, a block and two steals.

Guard Jayden Jackson scored 20 with seven assists, guard Oakland Fort added 10 points and forward Leigh Rickwood-Pitt shot a perfect 4 for 4 from the floor to score nine.

Northern Arizona also got its best performance of the year from guard Monty Bowser. He scored 14 points, including hitting each of his first six shots. His previous best, after transferring to the Lumberjacks this offseason, was nine points in the season opener against Embry-Riddle, an NAIA opponent. He had already reached that mark by halftime, including a pair of dunks and a 3.

Bowser’s production was another example of the type of depth the team has been encouraged by since the preseason.

“That’s something that me and the coaches have been talking a lot about, especially the guys coming off the bench, being confident and ready to shoot and play your role,� Bowser said. "That’s something I’ve been focusing on this year, being prepared to go for when my number’s called.�

A 16-3 run to start the second half put the Lumberjacks squarely ahead, leading by as much as 20. The Coyotes closed the gap to 10 in the waning moments, but never truly threatened to come back.

“We have the ability to flush the last game and be able to come home and defend our home court. We take a lot of pride in winning games in Flagstaff,� Bowser said.

The Lumberjacks started the game fast, literally. Northern Arizona played at a near-frantic pace at points in the first half, leading to 12 fastbreak points and several baskets in transition.

Shooting 60% from the floor and an equal percentage from 3 -- going 6 for 10 from beyond the arc -- the Lumberjacks had one of their most productive halves of the season. McLaughlin had 15 points, while Bowser went 4 for 4 from the floor, including a pair of dunks and a 3, to score nine points. Fort also added eight, while Towt had three early points and 10 boards.

Foul shooting was a rare weakness for the Lumberjacks, especially in the first half. It went just 5 for 10 in the first 20 minutes, but improved to an 18-for-23 mark in the second half.

The Lumberjacks will have a week off of competition before visiting Pepperdine in Malibu, California, on Dec. 14.