1/30/1967

NAU completed its first season sweep of the Wildcats since 1958-59 by forging a 20-point lead late in the second half and standing off a late Arizona charge.

"We just didn't play well," said UA coach Bruce Larson. "We had 17 turnovers to their 11 and were very sluggish at times, although we shot pretty well from the field."

Forward Dick Root and guard Pat McAndrew played well in relief roles, Larson said. Root scored 14 points to tie Brad Greene for Wildcat scoring honors and McAndrew's floor play helped spark Arizona's closing surge.

The victory was the ninth in 15 starts for the Lumberjacks, who whipped the Cats 82-67 in Tucson last month. Arizona has a 6-10 season record.

Jim Plump, a 6-4 forward, hit 27 points and guard Craig Schafer 17 for the Axmen. Plump also collected a dozen rebounds and helped 6-6 teammate Dick Williams dominate the boards. Williams, a junior college transfer who recently became eligible, picked off 15 rebounds and scored eight points.

Bill Davis, Arizona's leading scorer, contributed 13 points to the Wildcat cause, but was charged with two technical fouls.

A capacity crowd of 3,500 watched NAU gain a 35-28 halftime lead after the Wildcats had led by four points 11 minutes into the game. Plump, who scored 15 points in the first half, fractured a 24-24 tie with a jump shot and hit two more important baskets just before intermission.

Mike Welton pulled Arizona within four points (38-34) early in the second half, but the Lumberjacks' superior rebounding and ball-handling forced the Cats into a running game moments later. NAU led 70-50 with 5:10 to play before Arizona caught fire.

Arizona hit 47 per cent of its field goal tries (27 of 57), but missed 11 free throws — several on one-and-one situations.

The Wildcats still hold a commanding 63-26 series edge over the Lumberjacks, who now are 2-12 against Larson-coached UA teams.