University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, January 14
Greeley, CO
7:00 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
4-13, 1-4BSC
66
vs
73
University of Montana
10-6,5-0BSC
1
2
F
Montana
37
36
73
Northern Colorado
26
40
66
Team Stats
UM
UNCO
FG%
.460
.388
3FG%
.190
.133
FT%
.697
.722
RB
43
34
TO
15
12
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Dean Popejoy
@unco_mbb Can't Knock Off Montana at Home
1/14/2016 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC shot a season-low 13.3% from beyond the arc in Wednesday night's 73-66 loss to the Griz.
GREELEY, Colo. – It was another play-from-behind game for Northern Colorado (4-13, 1-4 Big Sky) on Wednesday night inside Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears spotted Montana (10-6, 5-0 Big Sky) a double-digit lead in the first half before fighting its way back into the game, but it was too little, too late as they dropped their fourth consecutive game, 73-66.
Junior guard, Jordan Wilson led the team in the loss with 19 points, 10 of those coming from the free throw line. Wilson finished the night 4-of-11 (36.3%) from the floor and was just 1-of-5 (20.0%) from three point range, but converted at the charity stripe, shooting 76.9% (10-of-13).
Wilson has now scored in double figures for 17 straight games, tying the program's Division I record of consecutive games with 10 points or more set by former guard, Will Figures in the 2009-10 season.
Dallas Anglin, Jordan Davis and Anthony Johnson also all finished in double digits. Anglin posted 12 points, while Davis and Johnson both ended with 11.
The Bears shot 38.8% (19-of-49) from the floor, but were just 2-of-15 (13.3%) from downtown, their worst shooting percentage of the season from beyond the arc.
UNC was also outrebounded by the Griz in the game, 43 to 34, their fourth straight game getting out-boarded by the opposition.
"Unfortunately it seems to be a pattern with us not showing up mentally with any kind of edge," head coach B.J. Hill said. "Our competitiveness is not enough right now to be successful at this level. It's a complete team deal – too many blank faces, too many puzzled looks, but once being down double figures we are able to rally and find that energy to make it game. It would be scary to think what would happen if we played the way that we do for 20 minutes for 40 minutes."
Montana scored the first points of the game and never looked back, leading the Bears from buzzer to buzzer.
Northern Colorado got within two (17-15) midway through the first half during a 7-2 run thanks to a four-point play from Wilson and a three-point play from Johnson, but that is as close as it would get during the opening act.
Montana eventually pushed its lead to double figures, taking a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at the half.
"All of a sudden it was like a different team in the timeouts (in the second half). We had guys talking, we had guys that were energetic – guys were cutting me off and bringing up stuff and there was none of that in the first half," Hill added. "We had guys sprinting the floor, we had guys playing with their knees bent that hadn't bent them the first 20 minutes, it's unfortunate."
UNC put up a fight in the final 20 minutes of regulation cutting the lead down to five points (61-56) thanks to three straight trips to the free throw line, converting all six points and making it a ball game with 3:05 remaining.
With 1:29 to play in the game, junior forward Tanner Morgan had two clutch makes at the stripe to cut the deficit to just four (65-51), but a Michael Oguine three-ball for UM and two makes at the line by Brandon Gfeller all but sealed the loss for the Bears, putting them down by nine (70-61).
Northern Colorado fought until the end, but couldn't get it done, falling 73-66.
"You would think once you get a taste of what you're capable of, like we did against Colorado State and Eastern Washington, like we've seen on film against Weber State in the first half where if we make free throws we're up going into the half, that we're very, very capable," Hill finished with. "You'd think that would create a hunger and it hasn't yet."
Northern Colorado now looks for a weekend split, hosting Montana State (8-8, 3-2 Big Sky) who's coming off an 85-68 loss at North Dakota. Tip against the Bobcats is slated for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Bears shot a season-low 13.3% from three point range, hitting on just 2-of-15 attempts from downtown.
- UNC was outrebounded for the fourth straight game, 43-34 by Montana, including 16-12 on the offensive glass.
- Northern Colorado shot extremely better from the free throw line as team, finishing 26-of-36 (72.2%) compared to last Saturday's game against Weber State where they ended 52.9% from the charity stripe.
Junior guard, Jordan Wilson led the team in the loss with 19 points, 10 of those coming from the free throw line. Wilson finished the night 4-of-11 (36.3%) from the floor and was just 1-of-5 (20.0%) from three point range, but converted at the charity stripe, shooting 76.9% (10-of-13).
Wilson has now scored in double figures for 17 straight games, tying the program's Division I record of consecutive games with 10 points or more set by former guard, Will Figures in the 2009-10 season.
Dallas Anglin, Jordan Davis and Anthony Johnson also all finished in double digits. Anglin posted 12 points, while Davis and Johnson both ended with 11.
The Bears shot 38.8% (19-of-49) from the floor, but were just 2-of-15 (13.3%) from downtown, their worst shooting percentage of the season from beyond the arc.
UNC was also outrebounded by the Griz in the game, 43 to 34, their fourth straight game getting out-boarded by the opposition.
"Unfortunately it seems to be a pattern with us not showing up mentally with any kind of edge," head coach B.J. Hill said. "Our competitiveness is not enough right now to be successful at this level. It's a complete team deal – too many blank faces, too many puzzled looks, but once being down double figures we are able to rally and find that energy to make it game. It would be scary to think what would happen if we played the way that we do for 20 minutes for 40 minutes."
Montana scored the first points of the game and never looked back, leading the Bears from buzzer to buzzer.
Northern Colorado got within two (17-15) midway through the first half during a 7-2 run thanks to a four-point play from Wilson and a three-point play from Johnson, but that is as close as it would get during the opening act.
Montana eventually pushed its lead to double figures, taking a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at the half.
"All of a sudden it was like a different team in the timeouts (in the second half). We had guys talking, we had guys that were energetic – guys were cutting me off and bringing up stuff and there was none of that in the first half," Hill added. "We had guys sprinting the floor, we had guys playing with their knees bent that hadn't bent them the first 20 minutes, it's unfortunate."
UNC put up a fight in the final 20 minutes of regulation cutting the lead down to five points (61-56) thanks to three straight trips to the free throw line, converting all six points and making it a ball game with 3:05 remaining.
With 1:29 to play in the game, junior forward Tanner Morgan had two clutch makes at the stripe to cut the deficit to just four (65-51), but a Michael Oguine three-ball for UM and two makes at the line by Brandon Gfeller all but sealed the loss for the Bears, putting them down by nine (70-61).
Northern Colorado fought until the end, but couldn't get it done, falling 73-66.
"You would think once you get a taste of what you're capable of, like we did against Colorado State and Eastern Washington, like we've seen on film against Weber State in the first half where if we make free throws we're up going into the half, that we're very, very capable," Hill finished with. "You'd think that would create a hunger and it hasn't yet."
Northern Colorado now looks for a weekend split, hosting Montana State (8-8, 3-2 Big Sky) who's coming off an 85-68 loss at North Dakota. Tip against the Bobcats is slated for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Bears shot a season-low 13.3% from three point range, hitting on just 2-of-15 attempts from downtown.
- UNC was outrebounded for the fourth straight game, 43-34 by Montana, including 16-12 on the offensive glass.
- Northern Colorado shot extremely better from the free throw line as team, finishing 26-of-36 (72.2%) compared to last Saturday's game against Weber State where they ended 52.9% from the charity stripe.
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Steve Smiley (Feb. 24)
Tuesday, February 24
Steve Smiley, Quinn Denker and Brock Wisne Press Conference vs NAU
Saturday, February 21
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Steve Smley (Feb 17)
Tuesday, February 17
Steve Smiley Quinn Denker and Brock Wisne vs Portland State
Saturday, February 14
