November 4, 2007

Men's Basketball Comes From Behind To Win Exhibition

Nov. 4, 2007

Box Score

Greeley, COLO. - The University of Northern Colorado men's basketball game outscored Colorado School of Mines 59-34 in the second half to come from behind and win their lone exhibition game, 92-79.

 

Junior transfer Jabril Banks made a huge impact in his first game as a Bear, scoring 20 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night from the field, and also posted a perfect 6-for-6 game from the free throw stripe as well. Sophomore forward Jefferson Mason and senior guard Thanasi Panagiotakopoulos both started and scored 11 each, while Panagiotakopoulos added a game high eight assists. Sophomore guard Will Figures also came off the bench to chip in 10 points in the win.

 

Mines was led by guard Kyle Pape with 21 points, while guard Jacob Case added 19 points and the two combined for eight three-pointers. Guard Grant Gunhus came off the bench to score 16, while forward Ben Mohr added 10. Gunhus also led the game with eight reounds and Mohr led the Orediggers with four assists and two blocked shots.

 

The Bears trailed by as many as 15 in the first half, trailing 40-25 with 3:00 minutes remaining and then went down by 17, 61-44 with 14:44 left in the second half before going on a 16-0 run in 3:11 to trail by just one 61-60. Figures scored five during the stretch, while both sophomore Neal Kingman and senior Sean Taibi each scored four to help bring NC back within striking distance. The Bears took their first lead of the half on a jumper by Banks with 10:09 left and never trailed again.

 

Northern Colorado shot 54.5 percent from the field (30-for-55) and 82.4 percent from the charity stripe (28-for-34) and had 28 rebounds, with 11 on the offensive end of the glass. Mines shot 53.5 percent in the game (23-for-43) with 11 three-pointers (47.8 percent) and hit 73.3 percent from the free throw line (22-for-30) with 24 rebounds.

 

The Bears start their regular season against Virginia Military Institute (VMI) at the Air Force Classic on Nov. 9 at 5:30 and then will face either Air Force or Dartmouth the next evening.