Bears dominate Knights in return

Monday, February 22

.Greeley, Colo.

6:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

9-8,5-6Big Sky

Warner Pacific

0-1

Warner Pacific

Northern Colo.

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

2/22/2021 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Four Bears scored 10-plus points in the 89-60 win Monday

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – The Bears were back in town on Monday! UNC men's basketball returned to action after a 24-day hiatus. Northern Colorado disposed of visiting Warner Pacific 89-60 in their return.

UNC imposed its will early and often against the Knights jumping out to a 9-2 lead and never looking back. They led for 39:47 of the game and never trailed.

Monday's action was about getting live reps against an opponent other than themselves and legs back under them after the break. That's exactly what head coach Steve Smiley did, using 11 different players on his roster.

Early on it was the usual names of Matt Johnson II, Daylen Kountz and Kur Jockuch getting into the action, but as the game wore on fresh faces like Bryce Kennedy and Malcolm Little joined in on the fun.

1H | @DaylenKountz2 ‼️‼️‼️#BearsStrong #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/OZX6LFe5mW
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 23, 2021

In total four Bears turned in double-figure scoring games led by Johnson II and Little with 15 each.

2H | 5⃣ three's for @Molx20Little‼️‼️‼️#BearsStrong #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/2jt2kZd54g
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 23, 2021

Jockuch added in a double-double himself with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

1H | Two hands for @kjockuch 😤 #BearsStrong #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/6EQ9m1ZWtI
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 23, 2021

What They Said

Stat of the Game
UNC shot lights out from behind the arc going 14-for-30 (46.7%), compared to just three makes by Warner Pacific.

Game Notes
- Freshman Bryce Kennedy earned his first career start. He ended up with a career-high 13 points and a rebound shy of a double-double.

1H | @brycewillcross for 3⃣!!#BearsStrong #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/Kt9GWlUmNc
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 23, 2021

- Malcolm Little scored his first points in the Blue & Gold and caught fire behind the arc on his way to 15 points. He was 5-for-9 behind the arc in just 18 minutes of play.
- For the second time this year Northern Colorado held its opponent without an offensive rebound. The Bears also held Regis without an o-board.
- Jockuch's double-double was the second of his career and season.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado hosts Portland State for its final two home games of the season on Thursday and Saturday.

To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.