University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Monday, February 14
Greeley, Colo.
6:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
14-11,9-4Big Sky
100
vs
95
Southern Utah
16-8,10-4Big Sky
1
2
F
Southern Utah
35
60
95
Northern Colo.
44
56
100
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Bears Shock Thunderbirds with 17-point Comeback win
2/14/2022 10:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC men's basketball erased a 17-point deficit in 5:37 to defeat Southern Utah
GREELEY, Colo. – The age-old adage it ain't over until it's over was true on Monday night inside Bank of Colorado Arena. Northern Colorado men's basketball came back from down 17 points with 5:37 left to defeat Southern Utah 100-95.
The 17-point comeback is tied for the second biggest in the program's DI history trailing only a 24-point comeback against Bethune Cookman on November 30, 2013.
UNC outscored SUU 32-10 over that span. Here are some more numbers during the run.
A 9-0 run over a 1:16 span gave UNC hope cutting the deficit from 14 to five with 2:25 left in the game.
It was back-to-back Knecht baskets that made the team believe with just a minute remaining down three.
Then the final 30 seconds were pure chaos. Daylen Kountz completed an and-1 to cut the lead to 95-94. Freshman Zach Bloch made his first of two key plays down the stretch. On the ensuing inbounds pass, he deflected the ball away into the hands of Kountz who quickly laid it in for the lead.
SUU charged down the floor down one looking for the go-ahead basket when Bloch came up with his second big play of the final 30 seconds. He stepped in front of a driving Tevian Jones and drew the offensive foul to give UNC the ball back.
From there on it was Matty Ice who made four free throws in the final 14 seconds to secure the huge comeback win.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
99.5 % - That is the percent chance Southern Utah had to win when they went up 17 with 5:37 left. Thankfully for the Bears, there was still a 0.5% chance of winning, which is exactly what they did.
Game Notes
- Another night, another 20-plus point game for Daylen Kountz. The Big Sky scoring leader had his third 30-point game of the season with exactly 30. He added in seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. He has surpassed the 20-point mark in eight straight games.
- Matt Johnson II scored a career-high 24 points in the win. He had a great shooting night going 7-for-10 from the field and a cool 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Johnson II led the team with six assists and added in six rebounds.
- Dalton Knecht had a big 13 points off the bench for the Bears.
- UNC scored 18 points off 11 SUU turnovers.
- The top two scoring teams in the Big Sky didn't disappoint combining for 116 second half points. UNC shot 64.9% from the field while Southern Utah shot 58.6% for the game.
Around the Big Sky
This was the stand-alone game on the Big Sky schedule Monday night. With the win, UNC is now tied for second place in the loss column with SUU and Weber State. Montana State leads the Bears by 2.5 games with a 12-2 record.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado hits the road for the rest of the week facing Idaho State on Thursday and Weber State on Saturday.
UNC's next home game is scheduled for February 21 when Idaho State comes to town. Tickets for the game can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The 17-point comeback is tied for the second biggest in the program's DI history trailing only a 24-point comeback against Bethune Cookman on November 30, 2013.
UNC outscored SUU 32-10 over that span. Here are some more numbers during the run.
- The Bears were a perfect 10-for-10 from the field.
- UNC went 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
- Daylen Kountz scored 16 of the 32 points during that stretch.
- Matt Johnson II scored nine points including shooting 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
- Dalton Knecht scored the remaining seven of the 32 points for the Bears.
- UNC scored 10 of their 32 points off five SUU turnovers.
- Nineteen of Northern Colorado's points came off the fast break.
- Southern Utah was just 33% shooting from the field.
Southern Utah built its lead with a huge run of its own. UNC held a 44-35 advantage at the half, but SUU scored the first 16 points of the second half. That lead ballooned to 17 points before UNC's miraculous run startedTHE VIBES: IMMACULATE! BEARS WIN!!!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/bQ6U39xmbD
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 15, 2022
A 9-0 run over a 1:16 span gave UNC hope cutting the deficit from 14 to five with 2:25 left in the game.
To quote @CoachBurton13, big time players making big time plays!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/01f78v0Whu
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 15, 2022
It was back-to-back Knecht baskets that made the team believe with just a minute remaining down three.
Then the final 30 seconds were pure chaos. Daylen Kountz completed an and-1 to cut the lead to 95-94. Freshman Zach Bloch made his first of two key plays down the stretch. On the ensuing inbounds pass, he deflected the ball away into the hands of Kountz who quickly laid it in for the lead.
DAYLEN. KOUNTZ. BEARS UP BY ONE!!!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/rxGk62PPPA
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 15, 2022
SUU charged down the floor down one looking for the go-ahead basket when Bloch came up with his second big play of the final 30 seconds. He stepped in front of a driving Tevian Jones and drew the offensive foul to give UNC the ball back.
From there on it was Matty Ice who made four free throws in the final 14 seconds to secure the huge comeback win.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
99.5 % - That is the percent chance Southern Utah had to win when they went up 17 with 5:37 left. Thankfully for the Bears, there was still a 0.5% chance of winning, which is exactly what they did.
Game Notes
- Another night, another 20-plus point game for Daylen Kountz. The Big Sky scoring leader had his third 30-point game of the season with exactly 30. He added in seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. He has surpassed the 20-point mark in eight straight games.
- Matt Johnson II scored a career-high 24 points in the win. He had a great shooting night going 7-for-10 from the field and a cool 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Johnson II led the team with six assists and added in six rebounds.
- Dalton Knecht had a big 13 points off the bench for the Bears.
- UNC scored 18 points off 11 SUU turnovers.
- The top two scoring teams in the Big Sky didn't disappoint combining for 116 second half points. UNC shot 64.9% from the field while Southern Utah shot 58.6% for the game.
Around the Big Sky
This was the stand-alone game on the Big Sky schedule Monday night. With the win, UNC is now tied for second place in the loss column with SUU and Weber State. Montana State leads the Bears by 2.5 games with a 12-2 record.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado hits the road for the rest of the week facing Idaho State on Thursday and Weber State on Saturday.
UNC's next home game is scheduled for February 21 when Idaho State comes to town. Tickets for the game can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Team Stats
SUU
UNC
FG%
.586
.649
3FG%
.474
.500
FT%
.692
.800
RB
23
29
TO
11
14
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
12
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballHead Coach Smiley, Jaron Rillie, Zach Bloch, and Isaiah Hawthorne Post Game Press Conference v Idaho
Sunday, February 23
Head Coach Steve Smiley, Jaron Rillie, and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs E Washington
Friday, February 21
Head Coach Steve Smiley, Quinn Denker, and Jaron Rillie Post Game Press Conference vs Montana State
Sunday, February 09
Langston Reynolds and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs NAU
Saturday, February 08
