@unco_mbb Home Win Streak Snapped

Monday, December 22

Greeley, Colo.

7:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

5-6

UC Davis

9-1

UCD

UNCO

Photo by: Ed Navarro

12/22/2014 10:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Bears lost their first home game of the year, 73-63 to the Aggies on Monday Night.

By: UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado (5-6) saw its five-game home winning streak snapped on Monday night, falling to UC Davis (9-1), 73-63.

The Bears were held to their worst shooting performance of the season by the Aggies, only hitting 21-of-55 (38.2%) of their shots from the floor.

Sophomore guard, Jordan Wilson led UNC on the night, scoring 15 points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds. Senior guard, Tevin Svihovec recorded his fourth straight game in double-digits, dropping 14 points, shooting perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Junior forward, Cody McDavis was the third Bear to reach double-digits, tallying 12 points in the loss.

"Down the stretch we missed three of four point blank shots and had four free throws from a really good shooter not go in," said head coach B.J. Hill. "But it all goes back to defending and rebounding and we did not do well in those two areas tonight."

UC Davis jumped out to an early 12-2 advantage in the first half after Josh Richart connected on a baseline jumper with 14:28 left on the clock.

UCD's Corey Hawkins extended that lead three minutes later, nailing a long three-pointer to make it, 15-6 in favor of the Aggies. That basket marked the largest lead of the game for either team.

UNC slowly chipped away at the deficit over the remainder of the half.

Four straight points from Svihovec at the midway point cut it down to five, but yet another three-ball from Hawkins killed the momentum swing.

With 7:05 to play in the half, sophomore guard, Cameron Michael broke free off of a screen and nailed a 12-ft jump shot, making it a two possession game, 21-17.

Two shots from the charity stripe from senior guard, Corey Spence rallied a quick 6-2 spirt for the Bears, ending with a fast break layup from the senior to bring the game within two points, 25-23.

Svihovec would take control from there and score four of the last team's six points.

UNC took a one point deficit into the half, trailing 30-29.

"We just didn't maintain tonight," said Hill. "We're searching for depth. Jon'te [Dotson] came in tonight and I thought he played well on the defensive side of the ball, but overall this team has not bought in to defending. They are still trying to outscore opponents and until they make that decision that they need to focus all of their mental energy on rebounding and defending, it's going to be hard to win these type of games against good opponents."

The second half appeared to be promising for the Bears.

After giving up quick jumper to UCD's Hawkins, Michael connected on his first three-ball of the game to tie things up at 32 apiece.

Northern Colorado's only lead of the game came two possessions later after senior forward Dominique Lee muscled his way into the paint and laid it up and in, making it a 34-32 contest.

The lead was short lived as UC Davis quickly went on a 9-0 run over the next two and half minutes.

The Bears were able to tie the game one more time and get within two points of the lead three more times throughout the second half, but that would be as close as they would come in the remainder of the game.

With 6:29 remaining in the game, Michael sank his second and final three-pointer, tying it at 56-56.

Again the Aggies answered back, this time going on a 6-0 run including four makes at the free throw line.

Under two minutes remaining, McDavis converted on a huge three-point play off the assist from sophomore forward Jon'te Dotson. The junior got the turnaround jumper to fall and drew the foul. McDavis finished at the line, drawing the Bears back within four of the lead, 64-60.

A full court press by Northern Colorado accounted for two Aggies' turnovers in the final 90 seconds of action, but the Bears were unable to capitalize on either one. UC Davis would finish the game at the line, handing UNC the 73-63 loss on their home court.

"We just have to keep fighting for answers and keep fighting for ways to be in games," said Hill. "This team right now, we're not going to be blowing teams out and we're not going get blown out, every game is going to be close in conference play and we have to get used to it and understand the importance of every possession."

The men's basketball team will look to rebound in the New Year as they tour Montana to start Big Sky Conference play. The Bears take on the University of Montana on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 7:00 p.m. and then head to Montana State to face the Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.