@UNC_BearsMBB takes the fight to the Vikings

Thursday, February 7

Greeley, Colo.

7pm

University of Northern Colorado

15-8 9-3

Portland State

9-13 4-7

Portland State

UNC

Jonah Radebaugh scored a new career high 28 points in the win over Portland State.

2/7/2019 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

As head coach Jeff Linder, and many others have put it so simply, basketball is a make or miss game. Following eight days off, UNC shot just 18 percent from three and 55 percent from the line in a tough loss to Montana State. Fast forward to Thursday night and the second game of the week, the Bears shot 45 percent from behind the arc and 85 percent from the free throw line against Portland State. Highlighting that improved shooting was Jonah Radebaugh who was 8-for-10 and 5-for-6 from deep on his way to a new career-high 28 points to lead Northern Colorado past the Vikings, 80-62.

PSU has the fourth best three-point field goal defense in the Big Sky at 34 percent, the Bobcats are 10th, go figure, it's a make or miss game.

The Bears pulled away from Portland State over the final 8:00 of the first half. With the game knotted at 12-12, Matej Drgon and Jordan Davis knocked down a pair of three's with two Trent Harris layups sandwiched in between and UNC went up double figures, 27-16. NC wasn't done, in the final 30 seconds of the half Kur Jockuch scored his only points of the night with a powerful dunk along the baseline and Davis hit yet another three-pointer at the buzzer, his third this season.

After seeing a 10-point lead slip away on Monday, UNC wasn't going to let that happen again. Radebaugh drilled a triple on the first play of the second half and Davis streaked to the hoop to cap an 8-0 run over the final 30 seconds of the first and the first 90 seconds of the second half.

The Bears only let the lead slip under double digits once over the final 20 minutes.

BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX SCORE

The run that put the Bears up 23 with over 18 minutes to play was in total 34-11.
Radebaugh dominated the closing minutes and the second half, he scored 18 of his new career high 28 over the final 20 minutes. Also, he grabbed eight boards.
Davis was primed to be the story of the game until Radebaugh took over. JD scored 25 and had another signature slam dunk over a somehow unsuspecting Viking.
Davis is now just 42 points shy of breaking the UNC all-time scoring record.
The duo of Davis and Radebaugh combined to score 53 of the Bears 80 points.
Bodie Hume came off the bench for the first time in his career and scored 12 points knocking down a trio of triples.
UNC only missed three free throws going 16-for-19 and hit their season average of 10 three-pointers.

CHASING A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Besides getting back in the win column, it was a good night for the Bears as Southern Utah stunned Weber State for the second time this season.
There was no such luck with Montana as the Griz hammered Idaho, 100-59.
UNC is now back into sole possession of second place in the Big Sky, just one game back of Montana.

SCHEDULE SAYS
The Bears close out a three-game homestand with their third game in five days and second in three days when they host Sacramento State on Saturday. The Hornets were off Thursday and will come to Greeley rested for a 2:30 tipoff on Saturday. Tickets are available for that game against Sacramento State on Saturday at tickets.UNCO.edu or by calling the UNC Box Office at 970-351-4849 Monday-Friday 10a.m.-5 p.m.