University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, March 11
Boise, Idaho
8:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
20-14,13-7Big Sky
86
vs
79
Portland State
14-17,10-10Big Sky
1
2
F
Portland St.
40
39
79
Northern Colo.
32
54
86
Photo by: Thomas Hoffman
Kountz Career Night leads Bears to Title Game
3/11/2022 11:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Daylen Kountz scores 36 in UNC's Big Sky semifinal win over Portland State
BOISE, Idaho – One step away. That's what Northern Colorado men's basketball is from going dancing after their 86-79 Big Sky semifinal win over Portland State Friday night.
Big Sky scoring champion Daylen Kountz poured in 36 points, 30 of them in the second half as the Bears completed the comeback win. The 36 points are the seventh most in a single Big Sky Tournament game and a career-high for Kountz.
UNC dug themselves a hole in the first half by turning the ball over 13 times. Portland State capitalized by scoring 16 points off those turnovers to lead 40-32 at the break. The Bears played well offensively minus the turnovers shooting 50.0% while holding PSU to 36.1%.
Portland State expanded its lead to 11 points quickly in the second half and put Matt Johnson II on the bench with his third foul.
Down their senior point guard, the Bears were not rattled going on a 16-5 run to take the lead at 48-47. Kountz scored eight of those 16 points with Bodie Hume scoring the go-ahead basket.
With momentum in hand and Kountz catching fire, UNC ran its lead up to 10 with an 11-0 run ending at the 9:49 mark. He scored the final eight points of the run.
The lead never changed hands after that as PSU pushed back on the Bears cutting the lead to as little as two, but UNC hit its free throws and Dru Kuxhausen made a key three-pointer with 4:35 left to go back up seven. Kountz drew the attention of the Vikings on the play and got the assist kicking it to Kuxhausen.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
In a game that saw 53 fouls called free throws were key in coming away with a win. The Bears made a season-high 26 free throws, the same number of field goals they made in the game as well.
Game Notes
- Friday's win gave UNC its 20th win of the season. It is the fourth time in five years Northern Colorado has won at least 20 games.
- Daylen Kountz reset his career-high scoring with 36 points. He did so very efficiently going 11-for-15 (73.3%) from the field making four threes and was 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Kountz grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists.
- Dalton Knecht was a huge key off the bench scoring 17 points including an 8-of-10 performance from the free throw line. He added in four rebounds and a block.
- Bodie Hume finished two points shy of a double-double, leading the team with 11 rebounds to go with his eight points, two steals, an assist and a block.
- This will be just the second time UNC and Montana State have faced off in the Big Sky Tournament.
What's Ahead
It's on to the Big Sky Championship game where Northern Colorado will face top-seed and Big Sky regular season champion Montana State for a chance to go to the Big Dance. The Bears and Bobcats split their regular season games winning on their home courts this year.
Tip-off is set for 6 pm MT and will air on ESPNU. Fans in Greeley can head to The GOAT Sports Bar for the official watch party.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Big Sky scoring champion Daylen Kountz poured in 36 points, 30 of them in the second half as the Bears completed the comeback win. The 36 points are the seventh most in a single Big Sky Tournament game and a career-high for Kountz.
Hi hello just popping in to tell you that @DaylenKountz2 has scored out last 10 points.#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/PzG2VhBw7l
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 12, 2022
UNC dug themselves a hole in the first half by turning the ball over 13 times. Portland State capitalized by scoring 16 points off those turnovers to lead 40-32 at the break. The Bears played well offensively minus the turnovers shooting 50.0% while holding PSU to 36.1%.
Portland State expanded its lead to 11 points quickly in the second half and put Matt Johnson II on the bench with his third foul.
Down their senior point guard, the Bears were not rattled going on a 16-5 run to take the lead at 48-47. Kountz scored eight of those 16 points with Bodie Hume scoring the go-ahead basket.
With momentum in hand and Kountz catching fire, UNC ran its lead up to 10 with an 11-0 run ending at the 9:49 mark. He scored the final eight points of the run.
The lead never changed hands after that as PSU pushed back on the Bears cutting the lead to as little as two, but UNC hit its free throws and Dru Kuxhausen made a key three-pointer with 4:35 left to go back up seven. Kountz drew the attention of the Vikings on the play and got the assist kicking it to Kuxhausen.
.@dkux3 from DEEEEEEP!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/SJxlf4pAmY
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 12, 2022
What They Said
Stat of the Game
In a game that saw 53 fouls called free throws were key in coming away with a win. The Bears made a season-high 26 free throws, the same number of field goals they made in the game as well.
Game Notes
- Friday's win gave UNC its 20th win of the season. It is the fourth time in five years Northern Colorado has won at least 20 games.
- Daylen Kountz reset his career-high scoring with 36 points. He did so very efficiently going 11-for-15 (73.3%) from the field making four threes and was 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Kountz grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists.
- Dalton Knecht was a huge key off the bench scoring 17 points including an 8-of-10 performance from the free throw line. He added in four rebounds and a block.
- Bodie Hume finished two points shy of a double-double, leading the team with 11 rebounds to go with his eight points, two steals, an assist and a block.
- UNC committed a season-high 22 turnovers and still got the win.DENIED!@bodiehume | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/PElpk4PTAD
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 12, 2022
- This will be just the second time UNC and Montana State have faced off in the Big Sky Tournament.
What's Ahead
It's on to the Big Sky Championship game where Northern Colorado will face top-seed and Big Sky regular season champion Montana State for a chance to go to the Big Dance. The Bears and Bobcats split their regular season games winning on their home courts this year.
Tip-off is set for 6 pm MT and will air on ESPNU. Fans in Greeley can head to The GOAT Sports Bar for the official watch party.
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
PSU
UNC
FG%
.357
.542
3FG%
.211
.400
FT%
.694
.765
RB
36
37
TO
10
22
STL
14
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
36
FGM
11
3FGM
4
FTM
10
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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