Davis comes up clutch for @UNC_BearsMBB in conference opening win

Saturday, December 29

Sacramento, Calif.

8 pm

University of Northern Colorado

7-5, 1-0Big Sky

Sacramento State

6-4, 0-1Big Sky

Northern Colorado

Sacramento State

Jordan Davis scored a game-high 28 points in the Bears Big Sky opening win.

12/29/2018 10:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It was the start of the second season, but as the clock ticked away in the Big Sky Conference opener it seemed like more of the same from the first season. That was until Jordan Davis decided it was time for a change. The senior wasn't going to watch another victory slip through the Bears fingers in the final minutes. He scored 11 points over the final 2:30, which propelled Northern Colorado past Sacramento State, 70-65.

The Hornets had led by as many as 10 points in the second half. But with just over 90 seconds left in the game that lead was just two points, and short-lived. Following a Marcus Graves jumper that broke a 63-63 tie, Davis caught Joshua Patton on a switch and without hesitation let go what turned out to be the - game-winning shot right in the face of the 6-foot, 8-inch junior forward. The soon-to-be all-time leading scorer in program history iced away the game from the charity stripe connecting on four-straight free throws.

It was the senior Davis who dominated the closing moments, but if it weren't for the play of freshman Bodie Hume, he may have never had that opportunity. The Hornets closed the first half on a run that put them up 10 points at the break, Hume came out and scored eight points in the first five minutes to put the Bears right back in the contest. He wasn't done, his three-pointer with just over 12 minutes left in the game gave UNC a two-point lead and Hume had scored 14 points in just 13 minutes.

Sacramento State came into the game leading the conference in 3-point field goal defense. They had allowed teams to shoot just under 28 percent on the season so far and had been holding their opponents to just five makes a game. Hume had that many himself. As a team, the Bears connected on 10 three-point baskets double what SAC St. had been allowing and just one shy of their average for the season.

BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX SCORE

It was the Davis and Hume show Saturday night. Davis finished with a game-high 28, while Hume added 18. They were the only Bears to reach double digits.
Davis wasn't just doing work on the scoreboard, he led UNC with seven rebounds and five assists.

SCHEDULE SAYS
It is a short turnaround for UNC who will make the trip up the coast to take on Portland State on Monday at 3 p.m. It will be the Bears fifth game in the Pacific Time Zone this month. Also, it will be the first Big Sky game in the new Viking Pavilion.
Northern Colorado returns to Bank of Colorado Arena for a three-game Big Sky Conference homestand Jan. 5 (Idaho, 4 p.m.), Jan. 7 (Eastern Washington, 7 p.m.) and Jan. 12 (Montana, 2 p.m.). Tickets are available for all three games at tickets.UNCO.edu or by calling the UNC Box Office at 970-351-4849 Monday-Friday Noon-5p.m. through December 31 and then 10a.m.-5p.m. beginning January 2.