The pair square off at 2-0 when Northern Arizona visits Stanford on Tuesday.
The Lumberjacks come into the game against the Cardinal having scored over 100 points in each of their two home games against non-Division I competition.
They defeated Park-Gilbert, an NAIA school, by a score of 100-49 and defeated Nelson (Arizona) of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association by a score of 115-67.
Northern Arizona trailed by a 52-point first half vs. Nelson on Friday by scoring 63 in the second half.
“I thought we played well (against the Lions), coming out of the half with a lead and … that says a lot about the guys in that locker room,” said Northern Arizona coach Shane Burcar, who led the team. with 30 points by Trent McLaughlin.
Playing Stanford on the road will be a challenge, as the Cardinal are coming off home runs against Division I rivals Denver and Cal State Fullerton.
Stanford defeated Denver 85-62 in the season opener, then beat Fullerton 80-53 on Friday.
Benny Gealer (20 points) and Jaylen Blakes (18) each recorded career highs in the win for the Titans.
Gealer, a junior, scored all the points in the second half when he made six 3-pointers.
Blakes transferred to Duke who also had five assists without a turnover.
Cal State Fullerton collected just two assists in the game while committing 14 turnovers.
“Very happy with the way our guys competed,” first-year Stanford coach Kyle Smith said. “We were determined to defend and I felt it the whole game. Holding a team of two assistants is good. Time.
“I would say that’s part of who we are. When we get tired, we have to defend, we have to do self-awareness. We’re going to be stingy.”
Gealer leads Stanford with an average of 16 points a game.
Senior forward Maxime Raynaud, who entered the transfer portal after last season but decided to return, averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds.
McLaughlin is averaging 28.5 points and 3.5 steals per game for Northern Arizona.
–Field Level Media
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