A late first-half scoring surge helped Northern Arizona overcome a strong early defensive effort by Missouri State en route to a 37-23 season-opening victory over the Bears Thursday evening at Walkup Skydome. NAU scored 17 points in the final 8:10 of the second period to snap a 3-3 tie, as wide receiver Brandon Porter accounted for two Lumberjack scores as part of the game’s critical stretch.