University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, March 8
Reno, Nev.
3:35 pm
University of Northern Colorado
22-11
80
vs
55
Weber State
20-11
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Northern Colorado
42
38
80
Weber State
26
29
55
Photo by: Brooks Nuanez
Recap: @UNCO_MBB Gets Revenge on Weber State, Advances to Big Sky Semifinals
3/8/2018 6:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC played its most complete game of the season to sprint pass WSU in Reno
Reno, Nev.—Six straight…Six straight was the number Northern Colorado had on its mind. Weber State had won the past six games against UNC including sweeping this season's regular season games. UNC defeated Weber State 80-55 in convincing fashion to advance to the Big Sky Semifinals and end the Wildcats six-game win streak over them. The win also sets up the Bears for another revenge game, this time against top-seeded Montana.
(3/10/2018) Men's Basketball Big Sky Tournament
The first four minutes was even between the Wildcats and Bears but UNC compiled a 16-2 run to grab the lead and they were determined never to give it back. Andre Spight was held to 12 points Tuesday vs Northern Arizona but he eclipsed that mark in the first ten minutes of the game Thursday and had 17 by the half. His 17 in the first half also put him over the 700 points mark for the season.
Northern Colorado's offense was hitting on all cylinders by dishing the ball eight times on 17 made shots in the first but more impressively grabbing seven offensive rebounds. Those o-boards resulted in eight second-chance points. The offense was good but the defense was great in the first 20 minutes as the Bears held Big-Sky leading scorer Jerrick Harding to four points. It was not just Harding UNC held in check, but WSU's second-leading scorer Ryan Richardson to zero buckets. Northern Colorado took a 42-26 lead into the locker room.
Northern Colorado continued to shut Weber State down and build its lead at the same time as Jonah Radebaugh gave the Bears a 20-point lead at 16:05 and that gap never went below 20 for the rest of the game. UNC widened the difference to as much as 29 a few times with a pair of 3s from opposite corners by Radebaugh who finished with 20 on 7-of-9 from the field and he hit five of his six 3-point attempts.
It is what Radebaugh did on the other end of the floor that helped the Bears cruise to the win. He held Harding virtually invisible for most of the game. Harding did not score his tenth point until there was 5:50 left in the game. Spight, who was battling an illness yesterday, showed he was here to play as he scored 25 points to lead all scorers. He also had five assists and three rebounds in the game. Radebaugh scored 20 while Jalen Sanders put in 10 points. Jordan Davis and Kai Edwards each finished with seven points.
In Their Words
Head coach Jeff Linder
Overall thoughts on the game
"All the credit goes to my players for them to go out and execute a quick turnaround and play really, really well on both the offensive and defensive ends is impressive. We gave them a game plan that was very different than the previous two games we played and to hold them to 35 percent shooting and outrebound them by 13 is really impressive. Good coaches have good players and I am lucky enough to have good players."
On Spight's strong game while battling an illness
"Andre was a great coach yesterday too for us. He was in bed and sick all day and in bed resting. He's a gamer though and was ready to go today after taking care of himself to get ready for today. Dre also did a good job of changing his game compared to the other times we played Weber, knowing how they guarded him in past games."
The challenge of facing a mentor
"As a head coach, it is just relief. Its hard to play against a great friend and mentor that Randy is for me. It is nice to get the monkey off my back and glad we beat them at the right time."
Senior guard Andre Spight
About the team's strong offensive night
"It was just the flow of the game and whatever the defense gives us. It was a great team effort tonight. It was a great game plan from our coaching staff and we were locked in and able to execute it."
Sophomore guard Jonah Radabaugh
How playing Tuesday helped the team
"It's a lot easier when you are able to get used to the rims after one game and the environment. We had that opportunity on Tuesday and it helped us today."
Game Changer
For the second-straight game, Jonah Radebaugh put up numbers that are above his season average as Radebaugh scored a season-high 20 points and pulled down eight boards. Jonah hit five of his six three attempts and the five makes ties a season high. Seven made shots for the Thornton native also ties a season-best. He was two rebounds away from his second consecutive double-double.
Key Stat
The Bears defense has been key in both tournament game wins this week. They are allowing an average of 57.0 ppg over the pair of games. Northern Colorado held Weber State to 55, which is the lowest amount of points UNC has allowed since December 10th against Oklahoma Panhandle State. WSU shot 34.6 percent and their 18-made buckets are the second-lowest allowed by the Bears this season.
Notable Stats
UNC is now set to play Big-Sky regular season champs Montana Friday night at 6:35 pm MT. The Bears lost both games to the Grizzlies this season, with both decided by nine points. The game will be on Eleven Sports, Pluto TV channel 231 and watchbigsky.com.
Cables Bar and Grill will have another watch party for Northern Colorado's semifinal game with Montana.
The first four minutes was even between the Wildcats and Bears but UNC compiled a 16-2 run to grab the lead and they were determined never to give it back. Andre Spight was held to 12 points Tuesday vs Northern Arizona but he eclipsed that mark in the first ten minutes of the game Thursday and had 17 by the half. His 17 in the first half also put him over the 700 points mark for the season.
Northern Colorado's offense was hitting on all cylinders by dishing the ball eight times on 17 made shots in the first but more impressively grabbing seven offensive rebounds. Those o-boards resulted in eight second-chance points. The offense was good but the defense was great in the first 20 minutes as the Bears held Big-Sky leading scorer Jerrick Harding to four points. It was not just Harding UNC held in check, but WSU's second-leading scorer Ryan Richardson to zero buckets. Northern Colorado took a 42-26 lead into the locker room.
Northern Colorado continued to shut Weber State down and build its lead at the same time as Jonah Radebaugh gave the Bears a 20-point lead at 16:05 and that gap never went below 20 for the rest of the game. UNC widened the difference to as much as 29 a few times with a pair of 3s from opposite corners by Radebaugh who finished with 20 on 7-of-9 from the field and he hit five of his six 3-point attempts.
It is what Radebaugh did on the other end of the floor that helped the Bears cruise to the win. He held Harding virtually invisible for most of the game. Harding did not score his tenth point until there was 5:50 left in the game. Spight, who was battling an illness yesterday, showed he was here to play as he scored 25 points to lead all scorers. He also had five assists and three rebounds in the game. Radebaugh scored 20 while Jalen Sanders put in 10 points. Jordan Davis and Kai Edwards each finished with seven points.
In Their Words
Head coach Jeff Linder
Overall thoughts on the game
"All the credit goes to my players for them to go out and execute a quick turnaround and play really, really well on both the offensive and defensive ends is impressive. We gave them a game plan that was very different than the previous two games we played and to hold them to 35 percent shooting and outrebound them by 13 is really impressive. Good coaches have good players and I am lucky enough to have good players."
On Spight's strong game while battling an illness
"Andre was a great coach yesterday too for us. He was in bed and sick all day and in bed resting. He's a gamer though and was ready to go today after taking care of himself to get ready for today. Dre also did a good job of changing his game compared to the other times we played Weber, knowing how they guarded him in past games."
The challenge of facing a mentor
"As a head coach, it is just relief. Its hard to play against a great friend and mentor that Randy is for me. It is nice to get the monkey off my back and glad we beat them at the right time."
Senior guard Andre Spight
About the team's strong offensive night
"It was just the flow of the game and whatever the defense gives us. It was a great team effort tonight. It was a great game plan from our coaching staff and we were locked in and able to execute it."
Sophomore guard Jonah Radabaugh
How playing Tuesday helped the team
"It's a lot easier when you are able to get used to the rims after one game and the environment. We had that opportunity on Tuesday and it helped us today."
Game Changer
For the second-straight game, Jonah Radebaugh put up numbers that are above his season average as Radebaugh scored a season-high 20 points and pulled down eight boards. Jonah hit five of his six three attempts and the five makes ties a season high. Seven made shots for the Thornton native also ties a season-best. He was two rebounds away from his second consecutive double-double.
Key Stat
The Bears defense has been key in both tournament game wins this week. They are allowing an average of 57.0 ppg over the pair of games. Northern Colorado held Weber State to 55, which is the lowest amount of points UNC has allowed since December 10th against Oklahoma Panhandle State. WSU shot 34.6 percent and their 18-made buckets are the second-lowest allowed by the Bears this season.
Notable Stats
- UNC once again dominated the boards as they outrebounded the Wildcats 42-29 and 31-20 on the defensive glass.
- The Bears were on fire from beyond the arc and it showed in the numbers. UNC nailed a blistering 62.6 percent of its 3-point attempts. This mark is the best 3-point shooting game of the season.
- Northern Colorado shared the ball at better than a 50 percent clip for the game. UNC had 16 assists on 30 made field goals.
UNC is now set to play Big-Sky regular season champs Montana Friday night at 6:35 pm MT. The Bears lost both games to the Grizzlies this season, with both decided by nine points. The game will be on Eleven Sports, Pluto TV channel 231 and watchbigsky.com.
Cables Bar and Grill will have another watch party for Northern Colorado's semifinal game with Montana.
Team Stats
NC
WSU
FG%
.517
.346
3FG%
.625
.286
FT%
.556
.625
RB
42
29
TO
10
12
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Steve Smiley (Mar 17)
Tuesday, March 17
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Steve Smiley (Mar 3)
Tuesday, March 03
Steve Smiley, Quinn Denker and Ciara Piffarerio Press Conference vs Montana
Tuesday, March 03
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Steve Smiley (Feb. 24)
Tuesday, February 24
