Buffaloes pull away late to stop Bears

Sunday, December 18

Boulder, Colo.

3 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

5-6,0-0Big Sky

Colorado

7-5,0-2Pac-12

Northern Colo.

Colorado

12/18/2022 4:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOULDER, Colo.—After 10 lead changes in the first half, Colorado used a 20-8 run late in the second half to defend its home court, 88-77, against visiting Northern Colorado on Sunday.

Upset-minded Northern Colorado (5-6) enjoyed several leads early in the contest with the last coming via a Caleb Shaw 3-pointer to make it a 25-23 contest.

Colorado (7-5) compiled the game's first extended run to generate a 10-point lead in the final stages of the opening half, but a Daylen Kountz 3-pointer at the buzzer made it a 46-39 deficit at the break.

Early in the second half, the Bears received clutch shooting from Matt Johnson II and Riley Abercrombie while a Dalton Knecht dunk kept the team to within five points (58-53) with 10 minutes to play in regulation.

Continuing to create second-chance opportunities, the Buffaloes erupted for a 20-6 spree to extend the advantage to as many as 19 points with just under five minutes to play to close out the win.

Overall, Colorado outrebounded the Bears 38 to 28 with nine offensive boards resulting in 14 points.

Though both teams committed 15 fouls, UNC generated just a single free throw opportunity through the first 30 minutes of action before finishing with an 8-of-12 line from the stripe.

Knecht led the bears with a 24-point performance while Kountz added 17 and Johnson II 15. Playing off the bench, freshman Brock Wisne contributed with a career-best eight points.

The Bears will return to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 20 when they host Air Force Academy. Opening jump against the Falcons is set for 6 p.m. inside the Bank of Colorado Arena.

Picked to place second in the Big Sky standings, UNC will open conference play at Weber State on Dec. 29.