@UNCO_MBB Falls to CSU in Final Exhibition Game

Sunday, November 5

Fort Collins

5:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Colorado State

Spight finishes with 25 points

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

11/5/2017 9:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Kurt Maddox

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Bears made their way over to Moby Arena in Fort Collins to play the Colorado State Rams in their final exhibition game of the preseason. It took five minutes for the Bears to get into their rhythm as Tanner Morgan hit a three to put UNC up 8-7 and few minutes later Andre Spight nailed a three to extend their lead to 13-9.

The team's largest lead of the first half was seven points with 11:20 to go in the period. Morgan hit a jumper and that forced CSU's Larry Eustachy to take a timeout to quell the run of the Bears. The score was tied with under a minute to go when the Rams' Raquan Mitchell hit a triple. The half ended with a layup by Morgan.

The Bears got into foul trouble in the second half so Coach Linder went to his bench and brought in Matej Drgon. Drgon came in and hit his first two shots…both threes. His second one pulled the Bears within two with six minutes to go in the game. Bears were still down two with under a minute to go when J.D. Paige hit two free throws to put the Rams up four. Spight and the Bears stormed down the court to bring it back within two with four seconds to go. Bears fouled and CSU hit both of their free throws to seal up the game and beat UNC 83-79.

Spight led the way for the Bears with 25 points and eight rebounds. Morgan and Jordan Davis each had 15 points and seven total rebounds. UNC outscored CSU in the paint 36-26, but the Rams had the edge in second-chance points, 17-9. Coach Linder knows this game will help them when the regular season starts Friday vs Colorado in Boulder. "It really helps us moving forward on what we have to do better. They challenge you from a toughness standpoint as much as any team in the country," said Linder after the game. "We just need to get all five guys crashing on the defensive rebounds," said Andre Spight on giving up second-chance points to CSU.

The Bears will open their regular season on the road at Colorado Friday, November 10th at 6pm. You can follow the Bears men's basketball team at UNCBears.com or on Twitter @unco_mbb.