FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Four Northern Arizona players scored in double figures, led by Trenton McLaughlin's 21 points, as the Lumberjacks defeated Sacramento State, 77-53, on Thursday evening at Findlay Toyota Court.

For the second straight game, the Hornets were playing without two members of their starting back court in sophomores Alex Kovatchev and Emil Skytta. Kovatchev has missed 13 straight games with injury while Skytta each of the last two. Also for the second consecutive game, Sacramento State got off to an extremely slow start. NAU jumped out to 8-0 and 14-2 leads as the Hornets missed nine of their first 10 shots from the field. Seven-foot forward Bowyn Beatty also missed tonight's game with injury.

The Lumberjacks went into halftime with a 45-23 lead, before taking the second half by just a 32-30 margin. The biggest difference in the game was the 3-point line where NAU was 12-for-27 (44%) while Sacramento State was just 5-of-29 (17%). The Lumberjacks finished the game 46% (27-59) from the field while the Hornets were 34% (19-56).

The loss dropped Sacramento State to 5-12 overall and 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference. After winning its first league game of the season against Portland State, the Hornets have dropped three straight. Tonight marked the team's first Big Sky road game. Sacramento State was playing its first road game in a month, beginning a stretch that will see the team play six of its next eight away from home.

Northern Arizona improved to 11-7 and 2-3 in league. That includes an 8-1 record at home, with six of those victories coming by double figures. Flagstaff has always been a problem for the Hornets, including a 6-26 all-time mark on NAU's home floor.

For the Hornets, Jacob Holt posted his fourth double-double in the last five games with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Five of those boards came on the offensive glass, as he converted eight field goals and a pair of free throws. Joining Holt in double figures was Julian Vaughns who matched his career high with 18 points, including four assists and three 3-balls. No other Hornet player scored more than six.

EJ Neal had six points, Chudi Dioramma four points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots, and Michael Wilson posted a career-best seven rebounds to go with two steals.

Kiir Kiir Chol Deng (2 rebounds in 10 minutes), and Leo Ricketts (2 points in 7 minutes) both played in their first games of the season.

Sacramento State is back in action on Saturday at Northern Colorado. Tip is 5 p.m. PT.