Men's Basketball Ready to Secure Second Seed against Montana State

Saturday, March 7

Bozeman, Montana

4 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Montana State

Photo by: Robert Dunlap

3/7/2020 12:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Northern Colorado Notes Montana State Notes

UNC men's basketball plays at Montana State Saturday

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GAME INFO
Who: Northern Colorado (21-9, 14-5 Big Sky) at Montana State (16-14, 10-9 Big Sky)
When: Mar. 7, 4 pm
Where: Bozeman, Mont., Worthington Arena
How to Follow: Pluto TV Ch. 538 | 1310 KFKA | Live Stats | @UNC_BearsM BB

Opening Tip
• Northern Colorado picked up their third straight win over Montana 71-64 on Thursday night.
• Jonah Radebaugh scored 21 points and had six rebounds and five assists in the win.
• The Bears held Montana to 1-for-12 from behind the arc.
• UNC can lock up the No. 2 seed in next week's Big Sky Tournament with a win on Saturday.
• With a win and Eastern Washington loss to Weber State on Saturday, UNC will claim a part of the Big Sky Championship.
• Northern Colorado is the top-rated Big Sky school in the NET (102) and KenPom (77).
• Montana State clinched a bye in the Big Sky Tournament on Thursday with a 73-65 win over Southern Utah on Thursday.
• Northern Colorado won the game between the two teams in Greeley this year 68-59.

Last Time Out
Northern Colorado used a 15-2 run over six minutes down the stretch against Montana to come away with their second straight win in Missoula 71-64. It is also the team's third straight win over UM.

With the victory, UNC is now 21-9 on the year and 14-5 in Big Sky play.

Four Bears finished the game in double-figures scoring led by Jonah Radebaugh's 21 points. He added six rebounds and five assists. Seven of his 21 came during that decisive 15-2 run.

Scouting the Bobcats
Montana State wrapped up a bye in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament next week with their 73-65 win over Southern Utah on Thursday. The Bobcats are 16-14 overall and 10-9 in the Big Sky under first year head coach Danny Sprinkle.

MSU is led by the trio of Harald Frey, Jubrile Belo and Amin Adamu who all are scoring in double figures. Frey leads the team with 16.7 points per game, but was limited to five points in the first matchup with the Bears.

Teams have been able to shoot well from behind the arc against Montana State in Big Sky play allowing 7.3 per game.

History against Montana State
Former members of the RMFAC UNC and MSU have met over sixty times before. The Bobcats hold a 39-25 edge. Since the Bears joined the Big Sky, Northern Colorado holds a 14-11 edge.

On This Date
Northern Colorado is 4-3 when playing on March 7. The Bears four wins have all come at home. Saturday's game will be the second time UNC has played on the road on the date.

Around the Big Sky
Eastern Washington clinched at least a share of the Big Sky title on Thursday night with its 100-77 win over Idaho State. UNC can clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's Big Sky Tournament with a win on Saturday. The Bears and Montana still have a shot at a shared regular season title with a win Saturday and EWU loss.

What's Ahead?
It's off to Boise for the Big Sky Tournament. The Bears have a bye in the first round. UNC's first game will come Thursday night.

To stay up to date on all things UNC men's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.