University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, March 3
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
18-13,13-6Big Sky
75
at
66
Montana
18-12,11-8Big Sky
1
2
F
Northern Colo.
34
41
75
Montana
27
39
66
Photo by: Jam David
Men's Basketball Conquers Dahlberg Arena Again
3/3/2022 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC men's basketball picked up a 75-66 win at Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. – Dahlberg Arena is not a place for the faint of heart to play. Northern Colorado picked up their fourth win in their last five games at Montana Thursday night 75-66.
The three-headed monster of Daylen Kountz, Matt Johnson II and Kur Jongkuch led the Bears. Kountz and Johnson II cracked the 20-points mark with 29 and 20, each while Jongkuch had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
UNC started the game fast jumping out to an early 9-2 lead.
Montana responded with the teams battling back and forth until another Northern Colorado run. This one was 7-0 led by four free throws from Kountz. The lead grew to double figures with Kountz's and one and just a little over three minutes left in the half.
Up 34-27 at the break, Northern Colorado grew the lead to 15 before the first media timeout. Johnson II caught fire in the second half with back-to-back threes to start it and scoring all 20 of his points in it.
The lead hung around double figures the majority of the second half, but Montana tried for one last push late with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to six with 3:42 remaining. Kountz and Johnson II matched any big shot from the Griz with their own to help grow the lead back to double figures.
The duo made seven free throws over the final 49 seconds to put the game away.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
Northern Colorado dominated the glass outrebounding the Griz 37-23. The Bears had more defensive rebounds, 28, than Montana had total, 23.
Game Notes
- Daylen Kountz had his 19th 20-point game of the year scoring a game-high 29 points in the win. He added in four rebounds and an assist. Kountz matched his career-high for made free throws with 12.
- Matt Johnson II recorded his third 20-point game. He scored all 20 of his points in the second half while adding in four assists and two rebounds.
- Kur Jongkuch had his eighth double-double of the year with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He finished a rebound shy of tying his career-high.
- The Bears never trailed in the game, leading for 36:09.
Around the Big Sky
Montana State secured the outright Big Sky championship with their 75-69 win over Sacramento State. Northern Colorado will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament with a win Saturday, the No. 3 seed with a loss.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado closes out the 2021-22 regular season by taking on the Big Sky regular season champions Montana State on Saturday. UNC and MSU tip-off at 4 pm MT in Bozeman.
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 three-headed monster of Daylen Kountz, Matt Johnson II and Kur Jongkuch led the Bears. Kountz and Johnson II cracked the 20-points mark with 29 and 20, each while Jongkuch had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
UNC started the game fast jumping out to an early 9-2 lead.
Montana responded with the teams battling back and forth until another Northern Colorado run. This one was 7-0 led by four free throws from Kountz. The lead grew to double figures with Kountz's and one and just a little over three minutes left in the half.
💪💪💪@DaylenKountz2 | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/3SJuJyDSHB
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 4, 2022
Up 34-27 at the break, Northern Colorado grew the lead to 15 before the first media timeout. Johnson II caught fire in the second half with back-to-back threes to start it and scoring all 20 of his points in it.
That's how you start the second half! @mattoraw23 | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/ImUPwzjilp
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 4, 2022
The lead hung around double figures the majority of the second half, but Montana tried for one last push late with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to six with 3:42 remaining. Kountz and Johnson II matched any big shot from the Griz with their own to help grow the lead back to double figures.
The duo made seven free throws over the final 49 seconds to put the game away.
What They Said
Stat of the Game
Northern Colorado dominated the glass outrebounding the Griz 37-23. The Bears had more defensive rebounds, 28, than Montana had total, 23.
Game Notes
- Daylen Kountz had his 19th 20-point game of the year scoring a game-high 29 points in the win. He added in four rebounds and an assist. Kountz matched his career-high for made free throws with 12.
- Matt Johnson II recorded his third 20-point game. He scored all 20 of his points in the second half while adding in four assists and two rebounds.
- Kur Jongkuch had his eighth double-double of the year with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He finished a rebound shy of tying his career-high.
- UNC took advantage of Montana's turnovers scoring 13 points off seven turnovers.It's a 🐦 it's a ✈️ it's @kjongkuch!#GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/AxPzmnUjwh
— UNC Men's Basketball (@UNC_BearsMBB) March 4, 2022
- The Bears never trailed in the game, leading for 36:09.
Around the Big Sky
Montana State secured the outright Big Sky championship with their 75-69 win over Sacramento State. Northern Colorado will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament with a win Saturday, the No. 3 seed with a loss.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado closes out the 2021-22 regular season by taking on the Big Sky regular season champions Montana State on Saturday. UNC and MSU tip-off at 4 pm MT in Bozeman.
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
Mont
FG%
.509
.442
3FG%
.353
.364
FT%
.833
.667
RB
37
23
TO
12
7
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
12
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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