NAU spoils @UNC_BearsMBB senior day

Saturday, March 9

Greeley, Colo.

5pm

University of Northern Colorado

21-10,15-5

Northern Arizona

10-20,8-12

OT 1

Northern Arizona

Northern Colorado

3/9/2019 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Ronan

It was supposed to be one of the best days in the history of UNC basketball. First, it was senior night for one of the greatest players to ever put on the blue and gold, Jordan Davis. Second, they had a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky regular season title. Northern Arizona had other ideas. The Jacks pushed the game to overtime and then proceeded to control the extra session on the way to an 89-78 victory.

The disappointment around the program is real, but the biggest goal is still out there in the form of a Big Sky Conference Tournament title. That championship wouldn't be shared and would send the Bears to the NCAA Tournament.

As for the Big Sky Championships, UNC was in all likelihood going to be the No. 2 seed win or lose.

The letdown the Bears feel comes from this fact, with 12:36 left in the game a Trent Harris three-pointer up them up 53-39. What did UNC in was something have built their program around, 3-point defense. The Lumberjacks knocked down eight second-half triples, NC had only allowed seven made three-pointers in their last two victories. Luke Avdalovic who would be second in the nation for percentage if he had enough attempts hit three of those eight second-half triples. In the first meeting, UNC didn't allow him to even get a shot off.

Despite the hot shooting from NAU over the final minutes, UNC still had a chance in the waning seconds. Jonah Radebaugh rebounded a missed Carlos Hines free throw that would have put the Jacks up two. Radebaugh was then fouled by Hines when he was close to 90-feet away from the UNC basket. Trailing 74-73 Radebaugh came through on the second free throw to send the game to overtime.

BREAKING OUT THE BOX SCORE

In his final game at Bank of Colorado Arena, Davis finished with a team-high 21 points, six assists and three steals.
Bodie Hume won't have a senior day for quite a while, the freshman poured in 17 including five three-pointers.
Kai Edwards continued the great play by the UNC big man rotation. He posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

THE CHASE FOR A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
UNC will finish in second place after Montana beat Sacramento State Saturday night. UNC set a record for Big Sky wins with 15.

SCHEDULE SAYS
UNC will play the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 matchup Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the second round of the Big Sky Championships. That game will against the winner of Southern Utah and Idaho State, the Bears swept both of them this season.