SUGAR LAND, Texas — North American University Men's JV Basketball showed grit, pace, and plenty of fight Tuesday evening, but a late-game surge by New Wave Academy proved to be the difference as the Stallions came up just short in an 87–82 contest inside the NAU practice facility.
The opening 20 minutes featured two teams matching each other blow for blow, heading into the locker room knotted at 38–38. NAU's perimeter shooting kept the offense flowing throughout the night, as the Stallions connected on 13 three-pointers and assisted on 21 made field goals in one of their strongest ball-movement performances of the season.
But down the stretch, New Wave Academy capitalized on second-chance looks and timely scoring to pull ahead in the closing minutes.
BERGARA LEADS THE WAY AGAIN
Sophomore guard Anthony Bergara continued his impressive run of form with a game-high 28 points, knocking down six three-pointers while adding 6 assists and 3 steals. Bergara's shot-making kept NAU within striking distance throughout the second half.
DIMAS PROVIDES BALANCED TWO-WAY IMPACT
Freshman forward Jordon Dimas delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, finishing with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks while shooting 8-of-17 from the field. Dimas gave the Stallions a steady interior presence and repeatedly answered New Wave scoring stretches with buckets of his own.
PANIC, ROSSOW ANCHOR THE STARTING FIVE
International guard Nikola Panic filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists, providing veteran leadership on both ends.
Fellow Freshman Noah Rossow added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, helping NAU generate quality perimeter looks throughout the evening.
BENCH ENERGY SHINES
NAU's reserves delivered timely production:
- Jason Reeves contributed 5 points and added size on the glass.
- Uros Bekcic was perfect from the field, scoring 4 points in 2 minutes before exiting.
- Weiyu Chein added 4 points and defensive activity.
The Stallions' depth kept them competitive deep into the second half.
TEAM STAT OVERVIEW
Despite the loss, NAU showed strong effort in several key areas:
- 46 total rebounds (16 offensive)
- 21 assists on 31 made field goals
- 15 steals, one of the team's highest totals of the month
- 13 made threes, shooting over 40% from deep
Free throws (7-of-12) and a few costly turnovers in the final four minutes ultimately tilted the scoreboard in New Wave Academy's favor.
COACHING STAFF'S OUTLOOK
The staff praised the team's competitiveness and ball movement while highlighting the need for improved defensive communication and late-game execution.
"We're right there," the staff emphasized postgame. "This group continues to show growth. We just have to finish possessions and trust our principles for the full 40 minutes."
