@UNC_BearsMBB grind out win over Idaho State pushing their win streak to three

Saturday, March 2

Greeley, Colo.

7pm

University of Northern Colorado

20-9 14-4

Idaho State

9-17 5-12

Idaho State

Northern Colorado

3/2/2019 10:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

It was a classic letdown scenario for UNC on Saturday night. The Bears were coming off their two biggest wins of the regular season and had a third game in six days against Idaho State who came to Greeley in 10th place in the Big Sky. The Bears overcame a slow start and outscored ISU 25-14 over the final 10:00 to close out their third straight win, 71-62.

The difference in the game was the UNC three-point defense. The Bears and Bengals are tied for the most three-point makes per game this season in the Big Sky at 9.6. Northern Colorado held ISU to just 4-of-18 from deep, while the Bears knocked down double that. In fact, in the two wins UNC has over Idaho State this season they have allowed them to make just 6-of-35 shots from behind the arc.

The three ball is what sparked the Bears comeback. Twice in a three-minute span, they went on a 6-0 spurt by knocking down consecutive triples. With just over nine minutes left Jonah Radebaugh drove baseline and found Bodie Hume his corner three made it 49-48 UNC, and they wouldn't give the lead back. Hume finished with three triples on the night.

That doesn't mean Idaho State let up, the Bengals cut the lead back to 54-52 with just over five to play. But, that's when Jordan Davis caught 6-foot, 11-inch Kelvin Jones on a switch. With the big man playing for the blow by, Davis was able to get his shot over the big man and extended the Bears lead with his only three-pointer of the night.

Kai Edwards scored his only four points of the night sandwiched around a Radebaugh layup, which allowed Davis to go at Jones again to put the game away. This time JD got past his defender and that brought the Bengals center over for help, but Davis showed off his hangtime and floated the ball over the outstretched reach of Jones to put UNC up seven with just 45 seconds to play.

BREAKING OUT THE BOX SCORE

On the season ISU is shooting 37-percent from deep, against the Bears that number dropped to 17-percent.
Davis came on late to finish with a game-high 20 points. He added six boards, two steals and a block.
Hume had a clutch effort scoring 15 points, which was only topped by Davis.
Matej Drgon has made a habit of coming up with key buckets in key moments and he did that again and finished with 10 off the bench.
Radebaugh finished with five points but had another heck of a night on the glass. He hauled 13 after grabbing 11 in the win over Weber State.

CHASING A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Everything held serve in the Big Sky standings Saturday night because Montana took care of Southern Utah. So, UNC is still a game back with two to play. Montana has three games left, including a trip to Portland State who knocked off the Griz earlier this season.

SCHEDULE SAYS
Northern Colorado is down to its final two regular season games. First up is a trip to Cedar City before they return home for senior night on Saturday against NAU. Tickets to see Davis's final game at Bank of Colorado Arena are available at tickets.UNCO.edu or by calling the UNC Box Office at 970-351-4849 Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.