University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, March 3
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
at
Montana
Photo by: Jam David
Men's Basketball Heads to Montana for Final Week of Regular Season
3/2/2022 1:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC men's basketball starts the final week of the regular season at Montana Thursday
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado men's basketball enters the final weekend of Big Sky play jockeying for position for next week's Big Sky Tournament with a trip to the Gem State. It starts on Thursday when the Bears face the Griz of Montana at 7 pm.
Opening Tip
- Northern Colorado closed out its home schedule with a 98-94 win over Idaho last Saturday.
- A win and Montana State loss on Thursday keep hopes of a co-Big Sky Regular Season title alive.
- Matt Johnson II recorded his second straight 20-point game with a 24 point game against Idaho including making five free throws down the stretch.
- Daylen Kountz recorded his 18th 20-point game of the year on Saturday scoring 20 alongside two rebounds, two assists and a block.
- Kountz continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring averaging 20.4 points per game and ranking 14th in the nation. In Big Sky play he is averaging 21.5 ppg.
- Six Bears scored double-figure points against Idaho in Matt Johnson II (24), Daylen Kountz (20), Dru Kuxhausen (15), Bodie Hume (11), Kur Jongkuhc (10) and Dalton Knecht (10).
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.20) and second for three-point field goal percentage (44.0%). That ranks him in the top 20 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.6 points per game to rank second in the Big Sky and 29th in the nation.
- Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in both field goal percentage (47.8%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.4%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
Scouting the Griz
Once again head coach Travis DeCuire has his Montana Grizzlies near the top of the Big Sky standings coming into the final week of the season at 11-7 in conference play. The Griz are coming off a big 80-74 win over rival Montana State on Sunday.
Big man Josh Bannan leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Guard Cameron Parker has great vision averaging 4.8 assists per game.
UM has locked down its opponents this year allowing just 66.4 points per game. Big Sky opponents are averaging 69.9 points a game. That is the third-best in the Big Sky.
Around the Big Sky
With a win on Tuesday night Montana State clinched at least a share of the Big Sky regular season title. MSU can be the outright champion with a win over Sacramento State on Thursday.
Northern Colorado, Weber State and Southern Utah are still in the hunt for a shared title.
The five byes for next week's Big Sky Tournament are locked up by UNC, MSU, WSU, SUU and Montana.
The Path to a Title and Top Seed
Northern Colorado has already locked up a bye for next week's Big Sky Tournament, but there is still a shot at a regular season title and top seed.
The Bears need to win against BOTH Montana and Montana State and have the Bobcats lose to Sacramento State on Thursday.
What's Ahead
The Bears close out the regular season with a trip to Bozeman to face Montana State on Saturday at 4 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 closed out its home schedule with a 98-94 win over Idaho last Saturday.
- A win and Montana State loss on Thursday keep hopes of a co-Big Sky Regular Season title alive.
- Matt Johnson II recorded his second straight 20-point game with a 24 point game against Idaho including making five free throws down the stretch.
- Daylen Kountz recorded his 18th 20-point game of the year on Saturday scoring 20 alongside two rebounds, two assists and a block.
- Kountz continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring averaging 20.4 points per game and ranking 14th in the nation. In Big Sky play he is averaging 21.5 ppg.
- Six Bears scored double-figure points against Idaho in Matt Johnson II (24), Daylen Kountz (20), Dru Kuxhausen (15), Bodie Hume (11), Kur Jongkuhc (10) and Dalton Knecht (10).
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.20) and second for three-point field goal percentage (44.0%). That ranks him in the top 20 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.6 points per game to rank second in the Big Sky and 29th in the nation.
- Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in both field goal percentage (47.8%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.4%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
Scouting the Griz
Once again head coach Travis DeCuire has his Montana Grizzlies near the top of the Big Sky standings coming into the final week of the season at 11-7 in conference play. The Griz are coming off a big 80-74 win over rival Montana State on Sunday.
Big man Josh Bannan leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Guard Cameron Parker has great vision averaging 4.8 assists per game.
UM has locked down its opponents this year allowing just 66.4 points per game. Big Sky opponents are averaging 69.9 points a game. That is the third-best in the Big Sky.
Around the Big Sky
With a win on Tuesday night Montana State clinched at least a share of the Big Sky regular season title. MSU can be the outright champion with a win over Sacramento State on Thursday.
Northern Colorado, Weber State and Southern Utah are still in the hunt for a shared title.
The five byes for next week's Big Sky Tournament are locked up by UNC, MSU, WSU, SUU and Montana.
The Path to a Title and Top Seed
Northern Colorado has already locked up a bye for next week's Big Sky Tournament, but there is still a shot at a regular season title and top seed.
The Bears need to win against BOTH Montana and Montana State and have the Bobcats lose to Sacramento State on Thursday.
What's Ahead
The Bears close out the regular season with a trip to Bozeman to face Montana State on Saturday at 4 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.
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