@unco_mbb Vies to End Slump at North Dakota

Saturday, February 20

Grand Forks, ND

1:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

University of North Dakota

Photo by: Rob Trubia

2/19/2016 11:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball

UNC and UND Tip at 1:00 p.m. (MT) this Saturday, Feb. 20 in Grand Forks, N.D.

By: Kobee Stalder, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado (8-17, 5-8 Big Sky) hopes a trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota is just what the team needs to shake off its most recent four-game losing skid. Since defeating the Fighting Hawks (12-12, 7-6 Big Sky) on Jan. 30 the Bears have yet to pick up a win. Tip against UND is set for 1:00 p.m. (MT).

For all other information regarding the game please visit our GAMEDAY CENTRAL.

Scouting The Bears (Game Notes)
- UNC is currently riding it's third losing streak of four games or longer after losing on the road to Eastern Washington 97-80.
- Junior guard, Anthony Johnson dropped a UNC D1 single game program record 37 points in the loss. Johnson finished the afternoon 16-of-16 from the free throw line, tying the Division I record of consecutive free throws made in a single game.
- North Dakota was the last team the Bears have defeated as they remain winless in the month of February. The same thing happened to the team in January as they opened the month 0-4, but then went on to win the next four to finish out at .500.
- Northern Colorado has won the last three matchups against North Dakota and sits 8-2 overall in the last 10 matchups.
- Historically, the Bears have not played well in Grand Forks sitting with a 7-26 overall record.
- Head Coach B.J. Hill is 2-1 in games played at North Dakota, picking up wins in the 2014-15 season and 2012-13 season.

Scouting The Fighting Hawks (Game Notes)
- Since the loss to Northern Colorado on Jan. 30, UND has gone 2-2, picking up two big wins against Weber State and Idaho State, but falling on the road to Eastern Washington and Idaho.
- The Fighting Hawks still have one of the best scorers in the league in Quinton Hooker. Hooker is averaging 18.2. ppg and dishes out 4.2 assists each contest. The senior ranks 5th in scoring and 6th in assists.
- Guard Geno Crandall is the only other North Dakota player averaging double figures on the year, scoring 10.5 ppg.
- UND was handed a 71-70 loss the last time they faced the Bears. It was the sixth game in the teams' 65 game history decided by one point.
- Drick Bernstine led the team in scoring, finishing with a game-high 21 points, he also led the Fighting Hawks in rebounding, grabbing seven boards.

The Wrong Kind Of Streak
- After winning four straight games the Bears have now lost the last four after a 97-80 loss at Eastern Washington on Feb. 13. It's the third time this season UNC has had a losing streak of four games or more.
- The last time Northern Colorado won came almost a month ago, defeating UND at home on Jan. 30, 71-70.
- UNC now sits with a 5-8 record in Big Sky Conference play, sitting in sole possession of 8th place. If they season ended today the Bears would face Portland State in the League's postseason tournament in Reno.
- Despite the loss, Junior and freshman guards, Anthony Johnson and Jordan Davis had solid performances. Johnson scored a D1 program single game record 37 points and Davis pitched in with 21 of his own. Together the pair scored 58 of the team's 80 points.

Gameday In Grand Forks
- The last time the Bears traveled to North Dakota they came away with a thrilling OT win over the Fighting Hawks, 88-78.
- Cameron Michael and former guard, Tevin Svihovec each pitched in 24 points in the victory, while former forward Tim Huskisson also scored 19 points in the 10-point victory.
- Northern Colorado is just 7-26 overall in games played at UND, but 2-1 overall under Head Coach B.J. Hill
- In the three games played at UND under Coach Hill, UNC has shot over 50.0% from the field in all three.
- The best they've shot in Grand Forks under Hill was 60.4% (32-of-53) in the 94-90 loss in the 2013-14 season.

A Look Ahead
- Including Saturday's matchup at North Dakota, three of the last five games for UNC will be on the road. The Bears will host Sacramento State (Feb. 25) and Portland State (Feb. 27) before ending the regular season on the road at Montana State (Mar. 3) and Montana (Mar. 5).
- This will be the first time this season Northern Colorado has faced Sacramento State and Portland State, but are ahead of both of them in the Big Sky standings. The Vikings sit in 9th place and the Hornets in 10th overall.
- Last season at Montana and Montana State the team split the trip, losing to the Griz, but defeating the Bobcats.
- Northern Colorado would need to win all five remaining games to match last season's Big Sky record of 10-8.

#RoadtoReno
- New this year the Big Sky Conference will be headed to Reno, Nevada for both the men's and women's tournament. The #RoadToReno will begin on New Year's Eve and take place over March 7-13 for the women's tournament.

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Head Coach  B.J. Hill :               @CoachBJHill
Asst. Coach  Joel Davidson :     @Coach_Davidson
Asst. Coach   Will Hensley :   @CoachHensley
Asst. Coach  Eric Murphy :   @EMurph123
Dir. of Ops  Taylor Green :        @Coach_TGreen