Montana State Bobcats vs Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Northern Arizona vs Montana State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Bozeman.

Northern Arizona vs Montana State Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Lumberjacks and Bobcats. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Bobcats at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, MT. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Big Sky conference contest is set at 148 points, with Montana State being favored by -6 at home against Northern Arizona.

Northern Arizona vs. Montana State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Montana State Bobcats
Where: Bozeman at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Date: Saturday, January 11th
Betting Odds MONST -6, NARZ +205 | MONST -250 O/U 148

Lumberjacks Preview: Taking a Look at the Lumberjacks Chances on the Road

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Recent Game/Games

The Lumberjacks fell to 6-6 on the season after an 81-76 road loss to Montana on Thursday. Entering the game as +7.5 point underdogs, Northern Arizona kept it closer than expected.

After trailing 46-41 at halftime, the Lumberjacks matched Montana with 35 points in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 157 went over the pre-game line of 152.5.

Lumberjacks Offense Breakdown

Northern Arizona put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 42% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range, hitting 7 of 18 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.4%, and they connected on 68.8% of their free throws, going 11 for 16 from the line.

Jayden Jackson led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, shooting 47.4% overall. Malik Moore added 20 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep, while Trent McLaughlin struggled from three, missing all 6 attempts, but still contributed 19 points. Brandon Whitney was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting both of his attempts, and finished with 16 points on 71.4% shooting.

Lumberjacks Team Defense

Despite Northern Arizona's defensive efforts, they gave up 81 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 51% from the field. The Lumberjacks allowed 22 two-point field goals on 40 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Northern Arizona's opponents hit 9 of 20 threes, good for 45%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 13 times, where they converted 10 for 76%. On the boards, Northern Arizona limited offensive rebounds to just 4.

Bobcats Preview: Do the Bobcats Have a Shot at a Home Win?

Montana State Bobcats Recent Game/Games

Montana State dropped to 4-11 on the season after a narrow 83-82 home loss to Northern Colorado on Thursday, January 9th. The Bobcats were -1.5 point favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 165, exceeding the over/under line of 151.5.

Montana State led 39-34 at halftime but allowed 49 points in the 2nd half while scoring 43. The Bobcats will need to tighten up their defense in the 2nd half of games to turn their season around.

Bobcats Offense Breakdown

Montana State's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 82 points while shooting 53.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 60.7%, thanks in part to their 60% shooting from two-point range and 42.9% from beyond the arc.

Marcell McCreary led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 6 from three-point range and shooting 72.7% overall. Brandon Walker added 20 points, while Isaiah Hawthorne contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds. Jaron Rillie also had a strong performance, finishing with 15 points and 7 assists.

Bobcats Team Defense

Montana State's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 83 points on 53% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 60% of their two-point attempts, with a 21/35 performance.

From beyond the arc, Montana State's defense gave up 9 threes on 21 attempts, a 42% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, shooting 72%.

Lumberjacks vs Bobcats Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Northern Arizona has a 1-2 record in their last three road games. In this stretch, they averaged 78 points per game while allowing 80. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
In their last ten games at home, the Bobcats have a straight up record of 1-9 while going 3-7 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 67 points per game in these contests.
Looking back on the team's last five games as the underdog, the Lumberjacks have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-2.
Going back to their last five games as the favorite, the Bobcats have a straight up record of 2-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.