University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, December 31
Portland, OR
3:05 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
at
Portland State University
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
@unco_mbb Close Road Swing at Red-Hot Portland State
12/30/2016 12:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado (5-7, 1-0 Big Sky) travels to Portland, Oregon to take on the red-hot Portland State Vikings (8-4, 1-0) on Saturday, Dec. 31 in a 3:05 p.m. (MT) New Year's Eve showdown.
Links: GameDay Central | Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats
Scouting Northern Colorado (Game Notes)
- For the sixth time in the last seven seasons, Northern Colorado has begun Big Sky play with a 1-0 record as they defeated Sacramento State 69-53 on Thursday.
- UNC held the Hornets to 32.4% shooting, the lowest percentage they've been held to since they opened the season at Colorado, when the Buffs confined Sac State to just 29.4% from the field.
- The Bears are sporting the second best defense in the Big Sky heading into the Saturday's matchup against the red-hot Vikings. UNC is stifling opponents to 43.5% from the floor.
- Northern Colorado is 7-18 in the all-time series against PSU, and are on a three-game skid against Portland State.
- Sophomore guard, Jordan Davis brought his season scoring average back to the 20-point mark as he now averages 20.0 points per game, ranking him fourth in the Big Sky and 49th in the country.
Scouting Portland State
- The Vikings are the hottest team in the Big Sky entering Saturday's New Year's Eve contest. PSU boasts the best scoring offense in the conference, averaging 90.7 points per game. That mark also ranks them seventh in the NCAA (Division I) in scoring.
- PSU also enters Saturday's matchup 1-0 in the Big Sky after trouncing North Dakota 99-62. With the win, the Vikings have now won their last five games.
- Portland State is also the only team in the league that has five players averaging double figures on the season.
- Braxton Tucker paces the team averaging 16.8 ppg, followed by Calaen Robinson (15.1 ppg), De'Sean Robinson (12.4 ppg), Deontae North (11.4 ppg) and Bryce Canda (11.2 ppg).
- The Viks also move the ball well, averaging 18.7 assists per game. Not only is that a Big Sky leading mark, but also ranks them seventh in the country in assists.
- It's not just their offense that is receiving national recognition, but their defense as well as they are sporting 10.6 steals per game, ranking them fifth in the nation and first in the conference.
Bears' Last Time Out
- Northern Colorado jumped out to an early lead and never took its foot off the gas pedal as the Bears coasted to a 69-53 win over Sacramento State.
- UNC led wire-to-wire its offense jumped out to a 19-7 lead over the Hornets just six minutes into the ball game. With 13:24 remaining, to the end of the game, the Bears advantage never dropped below double figures.
- Sophomore guard, Jordan Davis scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half as he etched his seventh 20-point game of the season. Junior guard, DJ Miles was the other Bear in double figures with 11 points.
- For the third game in a row, UNC's defense held its opponent to under 40% shooting as the Hornets finished 32.4% from the field.
Lockdown Defense
- The Bears defense has taken strides over the last three contests. UNC has held its opponents under 40% shooting in two road games and one home contest.
- Northern Colorado now sits only behind Idaho in the Big Sky in field goal and three-point field goal defense. The Bears are holding their opponents to 43.5% shooting from the field and just 33.5% shooting from beyond the arc.
- In total, UNC has five games this season that they've held their opponents under 40% shooting. They put up their best defensive performance to date in Thursday's win at Sacramento State, holding the Hornets to 32.4% from the floor.
A Brief History
- Portland State has gotten the best of Northern Colorado in their most recent matchups. The Viks have won the last three matchups, including last season's 74-67 win in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
- In the two teams last regular season meeting which came in 2015-16, PSU's Calaen Robinson knocked down a last second trey on the wing to down the Bears 89-86 in Greeley.
- UNC hasn't won in Portland since the 2012-13 season, defeating the Vikings 85-75.
- Overall, the Bears are just 2-9 in games played in the Rose City.
By The Numbers
- Northern Colorado picked up its first true road win of the season on Thursday, defeating Sacramento State 69-53. The Bears were previously 0-6 on the road before the victory.
- UNC is currently 5-1 on the year in games they shoot a higher field goal percentage than their opponents, and 5-2 when hauling in more rebounds.
- The Bears have had a slight edge over opponents when leading at the half, as they hold a 5-3 record when taking the lead into the locker room. However, the team is just 1-3 in games following a win this season.
New Year's Eve Showdown
- This will be just the fifth time in UNC program history that the team has competed on New Year's Eve.
- The Bears are currently 3-1 in games played on the date, and hold a three-game win streak in Dec. 31 contests.
- The last time they played on Dec. 31 came just last season as UNC rode a 96-point performance to stave off Eastern Washington 96-90.
Social Media Hub
UNC Basketball Twitter: @unco_mbb
Hashtags: #BearWitness, #GoUNCBears
UNC Basketball Instagram: unco_mbb
UNC Basketball Vine: UNC Men's Basketball
YouTube: YouTube.com/uncbearsathletics
UNC Athletics Twitter: @unc_bears
UNC Athletics Facebook: Facebook.com/UNCBears
Links: GameDay Central | Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats
Scouting Northern Colorado (Game Notes)
- For the sixth time in the last seven seasons, Northern Colorado has begun Big Sky play with a 1-0 record as they defeated Sacramento State 69-53 on Thursday.
- UNC held the Hornets to 32.4% shooting, the lowest percentage they've been held to since they opened the season at Colorado, when the Buffs confined Sac State to just 29.4% from the field.
- The Bears are sporting the second best defense in the Big Sky heading into the Saturday's matchup against the red-hot Vikings. UNC is stifling opponents to 43.5% from the floor.
- Northern Colorado is 7-18 in the all-time series against PSU, and are on a three-game skid against Portland State.
- Sophomore guard, Jordan Davis brought his season scoring average back to the 20-point mark as he now averages 20.0 points per game, ranking him fourth in the Big Sky and 49th in the country.
Scouting Portland State
- The Vikings are the hottest team in the Big Sky entering Saturday's New Year's Eve contest. PSU boasts the best scoring offense in the conference, averaging 90.7 points per game. That mark also ranks them seventh in the NCAA (Division I) in scoring.
- PSU also enters Saturday's matchup 1-0 in the Big Sky after trouncing North Dakota 99-62. With the win, the Vikings have now won their last five games.
- Portland State is also the only team in the league that has five players averaging double figures on the season.
- Braxton Tucker paces the team averaging 16.8 ppg, followed by Calaen Robinson (15.1 ppg), De'Sean Robinson (12.4 ppg), Deontae North (11.4 ppg) and Bryce Canda (11.2 ppg).
- The Viks also move the ball well, averaging 18.7 assists per game. Not only is that a Big Sky leading mark, but also ranks them seventh in the country in assists.
- It's not just their offense that is receiving national recognition, but their defense as well as they are sporting 10.6 steals per game, ranking them fifth in the nation and first in the conference.
Bears' Last Time Out
- Northern Colorado jumped out to an early lead and never took its foot off the gas pedal as the Bears coasted to a 69-53 win over Sacramento State.
- UNC led wire-to-wire its offense jumped out to a 19-7 lead over the Hornets just six minutes into the ball game. With 13:24 remaining, to the end of the game, the Bears advantage never dropped below double figures.
- Sophomore guard, Jordan Davis scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half as he etched his seventh 20-point game of the season. Junior guard, DJ Miles was the other Bear in double figures with 11 points.
- For the third game in a row, UNC's defense held its opponent to under 40% shooting as the Hornets finished 32.4% from the field.
Lockdown Defense
- The Bears defense has taken strides over the last three contests. UNC has held its opponents under 40% shooting in two road games and one home contest.
- Northern Colorado now sits only behind Idaho in the Big Sky in field goal and three-point field goal defense. The Bears are holding their opponents to 43.5% shooting from the field and just 33.5% shooting from beyond the arc.
- In total, UNC has five games this season that they've held their opponents under 40% shooting. They put up their best defensive performance to date in Thursday's win at Sacramento State, holding the Hornets to 32.4% from the floor.
A Brief History
- Portland State has gotten the best of Northern Colorado in their most recent matchups. The Viks have won the last three matchups, including last season's 74-67 win in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
- In the two teams last regular season meeting which came in 2015-16, PSU's Calaen Robinson knocked down a last second trey on the wing to down the Bears 89-86 in Greeley.
- UNC hasn't won in Portland since the 2012-13 season, defeating the Vikings 85-75.
- Overall, the Bears are just 2-9 in games played in the Rose City.
By The Numbers
- Northern Colorado picked up its first true road win of the season on Thursday, defeating Sacramento State 69-53. The Bears were previously 0-6 on the road before the victory.
- UNC is currently 5-1 on the year in games they shoot a higher field goal percentage than their opponents, and 5-2 when hauling in more rebounds.
- The Bears have had a slight edge over opponents when leading at the half, as they hold a 5-3 record when taking the lead into the locker room. However, the team is just 1-3 in games following a win this season.
New Year's Eve Showdown
- This will be just the fifth time in UNC program history that the team has competed on New Year's Eve.
- The Bears are currently 3-1 in games played on the date, and hold a three-game win streak in Dec. 31 contests.
- The last time they played on Dec. 31 came just last season as UNC rode a 96-point performance to stave off Eastern Washington 96-90.
Social Media Hub
UNC Basketball Twitter: @unco_mbb
Hashtags: #BearWitness, #GoUNCBears
UNC Basketball Instagram: unco_mbb
UNC Basketball Vine: UNC Men's Basketball
YouTube: YouTube.com/uncbearsathletics
UNC Athletics Twitter: @unc_bears
UNC Athletics Facebook: Facebook.com/UNCBears
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