University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, March 11
Boise, Idaho
8:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Portland State
Photo by: Thomas Hoffman
Semifinal Date Awaits against Portland State
3/11/2022 9:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UNC men's basketball takes on Portland State in the Big Sky Semifinals Friday night
BOISE, Idaho – A night after surviving and advancing Northern Colorado men's basketball takes on Portland State in the Big Sky semifinals. UNC and PSU will tip-off at 8 pm MT inside Idaho Central Arena.
Opening Tip
- Northern Colorado survived and advanced to the Big Sky semifinals with a 68-67 win over Eastern Washington.
- This is UNC's sixth appearance in the Big Sky semifinals. The Bears are 1-4 in them with the last trip coming in 2018.
- Matt Johnson II led the team with 24 points. He made five threes on the night. Johnson II ranks 300th in the NCAA averaging 14.3 points per game
- Kountz earned the Big Sky's scoring title for 2021-22 and now has scored 664 points on the year. He is averaging 20.8 points per game and ranking 12th in the nation. In Big Sky play he averaged 21.9 ppg. He has 20 20-plus points per game.
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.03) and second for three-point field goal percentage (42.7%). That ranks him in the top 25 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.3 points per game to rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.
- Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in both field goal percentage (47.7%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.6%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
- Portland State swept the season series against UNC. The games were played back to back due to a COVID postponement.
- Bodie Hume is approaching two milestones in his career. He is two three-pointers away from the program record for made threes and 15 points away from cracking the program's top 5 for scoring.
- With a win UNC will have its fourth 20-win season in five years. It will be the seventh 20-win season in program history. Head Coach Steve Smiley has been on the staff for four of them.
Scouting the Vikings
Portland State upset Southern Utah on Thursday night taking control from the tip in a 77-65 game. PSU also took care of business against Idaho State in the first round game.
The Vikings play a unique style of basketball providing a lot of pressure on its opponent leading them to force 17.1 turnovers a game, 9.2 of them via the steal allowing them to get out in transition.
Khalid Thomas leads the team with 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Around the Big Sky
Montana State, Weber State and Portland State will join UNC in the Big Sky semifinals on Friday. MSU defeated Sacramento State 83-61, WSU won 68-56 over Montana and PSU upset Southern Utah 77-65.
What's Ahead
With a win Northern Colorado would face the winner of the Montana State-Weber State game in the finals of the Big Sky Tournament on Saturday, March 12 at 6 pm.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Opening Tip
- Northern Colorado survived and advanced to the Big Sky semifinals with a 68-67 win over Eastern Washington.
- This is UNC's sixth appearance in the Big Sky semifinals. The Bears are 1-4 in them with the last trip coming in 2018.
- Matt Johnson II led the team with 24 points. He made five threes on the night. Johnson II ranks 300th in the NCAA averaging 14.3 points per game
- Kountz earned the Big Sky's scoring title for 2021-22 and now has scored 664 points on the year. He is averaging 20.8 points per game and ranking 12th in the nation. In Big Sky play he averaged 21.9 ppg. He has 20 20-plus points per game.
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.03) and second for three-point field goal percentage (42.7%). That ranks him in the top 25 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.3 points per game to rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.
- Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in both field goal percentage (47.7%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.6%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
- Portland State swept the season series against UNC. The games were played back to back due to a COVID postponement.
- Bodie Hume is approaching two milestones in his career. He is two three-pointers away from the program record for made threes and 15 points away from cracking the program's top 5 for scoring.
- With a win UNC will have its fourth 20-win season in five years. It will be the seventh 20-win season in program history. Head Coach Steve Smiley has been on the staff for four of them.
Scouting the Vikings
Portland State upset Southern Utah on Thursday night taking control from the tip in a 77-65 game. PSU also took care of business against Idaho State in the first round game.
The Vikings play a unique style of basketball providing a lot of pressure on its opponent leading them to force 17.1 turnovers a game, 9.2 of them via the steal allowing them to get out in transition.
Khalid Thomas leads the team with 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Around the Big Sky
Montana State, Weber State and Portland State will join UNC in the Big Sky semifinals on Friday. MSU defeated Sacramento State 83-61, WSU won 68-56 over Montana and PSU upset Southern Utah 77-65.
What's Ahead
With a win Northern Colorado would face the winner of the Montana State-Weber State game in the finals of the Big Sky Tournament on Saturday, March 12 at 6 pm.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Men's Basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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