University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, December 10
Greeley, Colo.
5pm
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Preview: @UNCO_MBB Ready for Aggies After Finals Week
12/9/2017 5:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Greeley, Colo.—UNC's men's team plays their second of three at home Sunday as they host Oklahoma Panhandle State. The game is part of another women and men's doubleheader at Bank of Colorado Arena. The women's team welcomes in-state rival Colorado State at 2 pm while the men play host to the OPSU Aggies with tipoff scheduled for 5 pm.
You can listen to the game on 1310 KFKA with the voice of the Bears Troy Coverdale. Fans who want to watch the action live can view it on Pluto TV.
Opening Tip
UNC and OPSU will meet for only the third time on the hardwood. Northern Colorado won both previous meetings, the last one being in December of 1975 when the Bears, then competing at the Division II level, squeaked by the Aggies 70-67.
There's a new leader in the clubhouse when it comes to points per game. Jordan Davis sits atop the Bears scoring average with 16.9 points per 40 minutes. JD has averaged 20.75ppg over the last four games. Jonah Radebaugh still claims the top spot for rebounding on UNC. The defending Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year cleans up misses 6.1 times per game.
Climbing the Ladder
The way Jordan Davis continues to climb up in the record books, he might break or tie many of them by the end of the season. JD is perched at the 6th spot in career points. He's only six points behind Tim Huskisson (2011-15) for fifth spot all-time in Division I UNC history. When he passes Huskisson, Davis will be 20th in all of UNC men's basketball history. The junior guard also moved into second all-time in assists for UNC Division history. Jordan has dished the ball 257 times and is now second in Division I and ninth overall in UNC history.
The Sky is the Limit
The Bears are in the top half of a lot of statistical categories for the Big Sky conference. UNC averages more defensive rebounds than any other conference foe. Northern Colorado is top dog with 29.6 boards per contest while Idaho comes in second with 29.3. The Bears place second in three categories and they are: Scoring defense (67.0ppg), defensive field goal percentage (.410) and rebounding offense (38.7rpg).
Fabulous Freshman
Jalen Sanders continues to have a breakout freshman season. Sanders has started eight of the nine games. The true freshman averages 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Valor Christian graduate is the new swat master of the Bears. He has rejected opponents 12 times in the nine games, good for a 1.3 per game average and 6th in the Big Sky.
Scouting Oklahoma Panhandle State
Aggies Head Coach Jerry Olson is no stranger to the Big Sky, having served as an assistant coach at Montana State for 10 years (1994-2004). Olson helped the Bobcats make two NCAA and two NIT tournament appearances in that timeframe. This is his 11th season as OPSU men's head coach and 14th overall at the school. Olson was the women's basketball coach from 1990-1994.
The Aggies compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference in NAIA Division I and OPSU calls Goodwell, Oklahoma home.
Jace Kerr is the player to watch for OPSU. The 6-6 junior guard puts up a whopping 24 points per contest, which is 5th nationally while shooting close to 56%.
OPSU sophomore Jaedon Whitfield is leading NAIA Division 1 with a whopping 14.9 rebounds per game. Whitfield has an astonishing 149 boards in their 10 games.
Panhandle State recently knocked off NAIA Division 1 top-ranked Texas Wesleyan 90-81. Kerr led the way with 25 points.
OPSU sits at 8-2 on the season and average 87 points per game. They have broken the century plateau two times and haven't scored less than 68 in any game this season.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado will finish their three-game homestand Wednesday as they host the University of Denver. UNC will then head back out on the road for two games at Mountain West foes this week. The Bears will cross the northern border to play the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie December 19. UNC Athletics and Alumni will host a watch party for the game against the Cowboys. Cables will host and have drink specials and give out prizes during the game. Northern Colorado will then visit Jordan Davis' hometown of Las Vegas to take on the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV December 22. The Bears round out 2017 by opening Big Sky Conference play at home with a 7 pm tip December 29 versus Eastern Washington and an afternoon tip of 2 pm New Year's Eve against Idaho.
You can listen to the game on 1310 KFKA with the voice of the Bears Troy Coverdale. Fans who want to watch the action live can view it on Pluto TV.
Opening Tip
UNC and OPSU will meet for only the third time on the hardwood. Northern Colorado won both previous meetings, the last one being in December of 1975 when the Bears, then competing at the Division II level, squeaked by the Aggies 70-67.
There's a new leader in the clubhouse when it comes to points per game. Jordan Davis sits atop the Bears scoring average with 16.9 points per 40 minutes. JD has averaged 20.75ppg over the last four games. Jonah Radebaugh still claims the top spot for rebounding on UNC. The defending Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year cleans up misses 6.1 times per game.
Climbing the Ladder
The way Jordan Davis continues to climb up in the record books, he might break or tie many of them by the end of the season. JD is perched at the 6th spot in career points. He's only six points behind Tim Huskisson (2011-15) for fifth spot all-time in Division I UNC history. When he passes Huskisson, Davis will be 20th in all of UNC men's basketball history. The junior guard also moved into second all-time in assists for UNC Division history. Jordan has dished the ball 257 times and is now second in Division I and ninth overall in UNC history.
The Sky is the Limit
The Bears are in the top half of a lot of statistical categories for the Big Sky conference. UNC averages more defensive rebounds than any other conference foe. Northern Colorado is top dog with 29.6 boards per contest while Idaho comes in second with 29.3. The Bears place second in three categories and they are: Scoring defense (67.0ppg), defensive field goal percentage (.410) and rebounding offense (38.7rpg).
Fabulous Freshman
Jalen Sanders continues to have a breakout freshman season. Sanders has started eight of the nine games. The true freshman averages 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Valor Christian graduate is the new swat master of the Bears. He has rejected opponents 12 times in the nine games, good for a 1.3 per game average and 6th in the Big Sky.
Scouting Oklahoma Panhandle State
Aggies Head Coach Jerry Olson is no stranger to the Big Sky, having served as an assistant coach at Montana State for 10 years (1994-2004). Olson helped the Bobcats make two NCAA and two NIT tournament appearances in that timeframe. This is his 11th season as OPSU men's head coach and 14th overall at the school. Olson was the women's basketball coach from 1990-1994.
The Aggies compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference in NAIA Division I and OPSU calls Goodwell, Oklahoma home.
Jace Kerr is the player to watch for OPSU. The 6-6 junior guard puts up a whopping 24 points per contest, which is 5th nationally while shooting close to 56%.
OPSU sophomore Jaedon Whitfield is leading NAIA Division 1 with a whopping 14.9 rebounds per game. Whitfield has an astonishing 149 boards in their 10 games.
Panhandle State recently knocked off NAIA Division 1 top-ranked Texas Wesleyan 90-81. Kerr led the way with 25 points.
OPSU sits at 8-2 on the season and average 87 points per game. They have broken the century plateau two times and haven't scored less than 68 in any game this season.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado will finish their three-game homestand Wednesday as they host the University of Denver. UNC will then head back out on the road for two games at Mountain West foes this week. The Bears will cross the northern border to play the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie December 19. UNC Athletics and Alumni will host a watch party for the game against the Cowboys. Cables will host and have drink specials and give out prizes during the game. Northern Colorado will then visit Jordan Davis' hometown of Las Vegas to take on the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV December 22. The Bears round out 2017 by opening Big Sky Conference play at home with a 7 pm tip December 29 versus Eastern Washington and an afternoon tip of 2 pm New Year's Eve against Idaho.
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