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Almost a coming out party

Northern Arizona University shocked the world----by staying so close with St. Johns in Thursday's first round loss at McKale Center.

How close? Too close to call, at the very least. In fact, defeat didn'treally set in for NAU until the post-game press conference, a time in which the 'Jacks had to admit that their die-hard efforts weren't enough to take out one of the nation's top teams.

Following the game, coaches and players alike wept openly and talked about the season that was and what could have been had NAU defeated the Red Storm Thursday night.

"You have to give them (St. John's) a lot of credit," junior guard Corey Schwab said. "They got it done when they needed to, but we gave them all they could handle."

The fact is, the Lumberjacks came incredibly close to doing what only three No. 15 seeds had ever done in the tournament---defeat a No. 2 seed.

All in all, the Lumberjacks deserved to win Thursday's nightcap.

The Big Sky Conference champions played like true champions in the effort-just ask NAU head coach Mike Adras.

"I believe we deserved to win," he said. "We played like champions today and we are champions. We are the Big Sky Champions. We come from a very good league and tonight we played well."

The Red Storm, unable to guard against a true center, allowed, NAU's Dan McClintock, a seven-foot center, to score 18 points in the losing effort.

The game against St. John's was hardly a tune-up for the second round---the Red Storm's malaise turned to panic in the game's final seconds, as NAU gave SJU all they could handle.

Even the opposing coach couldn't help but commend the plucky Big Sky team.

"It was a lot tougher than we would have liked," Red Storm head coach Mike Jarvis said. "We have to give Northern Arizona all the credit in the world."

Despite a heartbreaking loss, NAU players and coaches alike took heart in one of the best seasons in school history.

" I have great kids," Adras said. "They epitomize student-athletes. As a coach, you can't be more proud of kids when they work so hard to develop teamwork."

For NAU, Thursday's game was a chance to prove themselves on a national stage.

Mission Accomplished.