Four double-digit scorers help @UNC_BearsMBB hold off last-minute MSU rally

Monday, January 14

Bozeman, Mont.

7pm

University of Northern Colorado

11-6,5-1Big Sky

Montana State

7-9, 4-2Big Sky

Northern Colorado

Montana State

Trent Harris came off the bench to score 14 points and spark a UNC second-half run.

1/14/2019 9:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The question heading into the Bears game at Montana State was would Northern Colorado be able to overcome its loss to Montana. UNC wasn't going to let the Griz beat them again. They led the Bobcats for over 36 minutes on the way to their fifth Big Sky win, 73-70.

UNC built a 10-point lead on multiple occasions in the second half, but with 19 seconds left the lead was down to just three points. The conferences third-leading scorer Tyler Hall had a chance to tie the game after UNC turned it over on the inbounds play. Hall finished with game-high 25, but his game-tying shot came up begging and the Bears kept their lead.

There was plenty of excitement packed into the final 13 seconds. The league's leading scorer, Jordan Davis gave the Bears a five-point lead once again only to see Harald Frey knock down a three-pointer from Billings that cut the lead back to just, 72-70. Davis made the second of two free throws and then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to end the game.

UNC built its lead thanks to a 16-4 run early in the second half. The Bears trailed 48-46 with just over five minutes gone by in the final 20 minutes. Trent Harris came off the bench and hit back-to-back threes on consecutive trips down the floor and NC went up 56-48. With just under nine minutes left, Davis came down the floor hit the spin button and the Bears took the first double-digit lead of the game.

MSU wasn't able to get the lead under six points until the 2:33 mark when Frey came through on a layup.

BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX SCORE

- Bodie Hume led UNC with 16 points and seven rebounds.

- Davis added 15 points.

- Harris finished with 14 off the bench and Sanders matched his season high with 10.

- After just two players finished in double figures vs. Montana, UNC doubled that number against MSU.

- Kai Edwards matched his career high with 14 rebounds and came just one point shy of a double-double.

- The Bears made eight threes against the Bobcats rebounding from the two they hit on Saturday.

- UNC's win broke a three-way tie for first place with MSU and Weber State.

SCHEDULE SAYS

The Bears head to WSU on Saturday for what could be another first-place showdown depending on the Wildcats game versus Idaho State on Thursday.