2019 comes to an end for @UNC_BearsMBB in Big Sky quarters

Thursday, March 14

Boise, Idaho

5:30 PM

University of Northern Colorado

21-11

Southern Utah University

16-15

SOUTHERN UTAH

NORTHERN COLORADO

3/14/2019 8:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

BOISE, Idaho – Northern Colorado and Southern Utah met exactly a week ago in Cedar City. They played again in the third Big Sky quarterfinal and in the opening minutes, it looked like the Bears were going to duplicate that performance 600 miles to the north. The upstart Thunderbirds weren't going to have a case of déjà vu. They answered the UNC run to take a lead at the break and outscored the Bears 15-1 in the first six minutes of the second half and avoided their third loss to UNC, 83-64.

"One loss isn't going to define all the success we had this season," Jordan Davis said.

UNC set a program record for Big Sky wins in a season.
Davis was named Big Sky MVP.
He became the all-time leading scorer in UNC basketball history.
Bodie Hume was named Freshman of the Year.
Jonah Radebaugh was Defensive Player of the Year.
Jeff Linder was the Big Sky Coach of the Year.

As for the game Thursday evening, Hume knocked down the Bears second three-pointer just ahead of the first media timeout and the Bears took a basket lead to that break. He came right out of the TO with five more points and it looked like UNC was going to mimic their 16-4 run from seven days ago that gave them a 21-point lead at the half.

Things changed for the Bears when SUU found its shooting touch that led them to an opening round win over Idaho State. They knocked down six first-half triples on the way to grabbing a 39-30 halftime lead.

BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX SCORE

In what could be his last game as a Big Sky player, Davis scored 15 and will end his career as the second leading scorer in conference history.
Davis would end his college basketball career as the 119th all-time leading scorer with 2,268 points.
Hume also finished with 15 points.
Jalen Sanders added 11 points.
The Thunderbirds made 11 three-pointers in the win, they made the same number in their first-round game.
In the previous two meetings against UNC, they combined to make just 10.