University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, February 17
Pocatello, Idaho
7:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
14-12,9-5Big Sky
58
at
61
Idaho State
6-18,4-11Big Sky
1
2
F
Northern Colo.
29
29
58
Idaho St.
33
28
61
Photo by: ISU Athletics
Off Shooting Night Hurts Bears Against Bengals
2/17/2022 9:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Another second half run wasn't enough this time for UNC at Idaho State
POCATELLO, Idaho – The law of averages caught up to Northern Colorado men's basketball on Thursday night as they fell to Idaho State 61-58 in Pocatello. UNC had its second-lowest shooting performance of the year at 37.5% after a season-best 64.9% on Monday night.
The cardiac Bears gave themselves a shot late despite the off-night shooting after trailing by as much as 13 in the second half. UNC used a 15-0 run over six and a half minutes to gain the lead with strong defense and the hot shooting of Matt Johnson II.
Johnson finished the game with a game-high 13 points, 11 of them coming in the second half.
His big shots didn't stop with the run either. He put the Bears ahead again with his third three of the game to make it 58-57 with 1:24 left.
Unfortunately for Northern Colorado, they were unable to score again going 0-for-2 from the field and missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
Basketball is a simple game of makes and misses. For UNC that was the difference shooting their second-lowest percentage of the season and lowest of Big Sky play at 37.5%
Game Notes
- Idaho State made sure Big Sky leading scorer Daylen Kountz didn't beat them Thursday night triple-teaming him at times and snapping his streak of 20-plus point games. The senior from Denver scored 12 points while grabbing six rebounds and had a team-leading four assists.
- After a very quiet first half, Matt Johnson II scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half. He added in five rebounds and an assist.
- Kur Jongkuch did a little of everything for UNC with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and a career-high four blocks.
Around the Big Sky
It was a night of upsets in the Big Sky. League-leader Montana State saw its 11-game win streak snapped in overtime at Eastern Washington, while Idaho had a comeback win over Montana at home. Weber State held off Sacramento State late as well.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado faces Weber State Saturday night in a big match-up for positioning atop the Big Sky.
UNC's next home game is against Idaho State on Monday, February 21 at 6 pm. 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 cardiac Bears gave themselves a shot late despite the off-night shooting after trailing by as much as 13 in the second half. UNC used a 15-0 run over six and a half minutes to gain the lead with strong defense and the hot shooting of Matt Johnson II.
Let's Goooo!!! 15-0 run!@mattoraw23 | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/00wTDX7Xmg
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 18, 2022
Johnson finished the game with a game-high 13 points, 11 of them coming in the second half.
His big shots didn't stop with the run either. He put the Bears ahead again with his third three of the game to make it 58-57 with 1:24 left.
Yessir!!!@mattoraw23 | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/G0VLwnFzB2
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 18, 2022
Unfortunately for Northern Colorado, they were unable to score again going 0-for-2 from the field and missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
Basketball is a simple game of makes and misses. For UNC that was the difference shooting their second-lowest percentage of the season and lowest of Big Sky play at 37.5%
Game Notes
- Idaho State made sure Big Sky leading scorer Daylen Kountz didn't beat them Thursday night triple-teaming him at times and snapping his streak of 20-plus point games. The senior from Denver scored 12 points while grabbing six rebounds and had a team-leading four assists.
- After a very quiet first half, Matt Johnson II scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half. He added in five rebounds and an assist.
- Kur Jongkuch did a little of everything for UNC with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and a career-high four blocks.
- Dru Kuxhausen had another strong night behind the arc going 4-for-7 to score 12 points..@kjongkuch says no no no!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/Xla6kL5Oz0
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 18, 2022
Great hustle by @kjongkuch! @dkux3 makes it a 7-0 UNC run! #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/Sj9kBbMSF5
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) February 18, 2022
Around the Big Sky
It was a night of upsets in the Big Sky. League-leader Montana State saw its 11-game win streak snapped in overtime at Eastern Washington, while Idaho had a comeback win over Montana at home. Weber State held off Sacramento State late as well.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado faces Weber State Saturday night in a big match-up for positioning atop the Big Sky.
UNC's next home game is against Idaho State on Monday, February 21 at 6 pm. 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
UNC
ISU
FG%
.385
.455
3FG%
.385
.333
FT%
.615
.875
RB
30
37
TO
10
11
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ 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
