University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, March 5
Bozeman, Mont.
4:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
at
Montana State
Photo by: UM Athletics
Men's Basketball Looks to Secure No. 2 Seed Saturday
3/4/2022 2:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC men's basketball takes on Montana State Saturday evening
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado men's basketball concludes the 2021-22 regular season on Saturday evening with the opportunity to clinch the No. 2 seed for the Big Sky Tournament. The Bears face Big Sky regular season champions Montana State at 4 pm MT in Bozeman.
Opening Tip
- Northern Colorado won for the fourth time in five games at Montana on Thursday night 75-66.
- A win on Saturday gives UNC the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament next week while a loss puts them in third.
- Matt Johnson II had his third straight 20-point game with exactly 20 in the win. All of his points came in the second half.
- Daylen Kountz recorded his 19th 20-point game of the year on Thursday scoring a game-high 29.
- Kountz continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring averaging 20.7 points per game and ranking 12th in the nation. In Big Sky play he is averaging 21.9 ppg.
- Kur Jongkuch ended up with his eighth double-double of the year with 12 points and 14 rebounds performance.
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.13) and second for three-point field goal percentage (43.9%). That ranks him in the top 20 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.5 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 (47.9%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.4%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
Scouting the Bobcats
For the first time in 20 years, Montana State won the Big Sky regular season title. Head Coach Danny Sprinkle has helped lead the Bobcats to a 23-7 record and 15-4 in Big Sky play.
MSU has a big three in Xavier Bishop, Jubrille Belo and Amin Adamu. They are averaging 14.1, 13.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Bishop is adding in 4.3 assists and Belo 7.0 rebounds.
MSU ranks in the top five in the Big Sky in both scoring offense (76.4 ppg, 5th) and defense (68.3, 2nd).
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.
The five byes for next week's Big Sky Tournament are locked up by UNC, MSU, WSU, SUU and Montana.
What's Ahead
It's off to Boise and the Big Sky Tournament next week. The Bears have a first round bye and will be either the no. 2 or 3 seed with their first game next Thursday, March 10.
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 won for the fourth time in five games at Montana on Thursday night 75-66.
- A win on Saturday gives UNC the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament next week while a loss puts them in third.
- Matt Johnson II had his third straight 20-point game with exactly 20 in the win. All of his points came in the second half.
- Daylen Kountz recorded his 19th 20-point game of the year on Thursday scoring a game-high 29.
- Kountz continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring averaging 20.7 points per game and ranking 12th in the nation. In Big Sky play he is averaging 21.9 ppg.
- Kur Jongkuch ended up with his eighth double-double of the year with 12 points and 14 rebounds performance.
- Dru Kuxhausen leads the Big Sky for three's per game (3.13) and second for three-point field goal percentage (43.9%). That ranks him in the top 20 nationally as well.
- The Bears are averaging 78.5 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 (47.9%) and three-point field goal shooting (38.4%). They rank in the top 30 in both categories in the nation.
Scouting the Bobcats
For the first time in 20 years, Montana State won the Big Sky regular season title. Head Coach Danny Sprinkle has helped lead the Bobcats to a 23-7 record and 15-4 in Big Sky play.
MSU has a big three in Xavier Bishop, Jubrille Belo and Amin Adamu. They are averaging 14.1, 13.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Bishop is adding in 4.3 assists and Belo 7.0 rebounds.
MSU ranks in the top five in the Big Sky in both scoring offense (76.4 ppg, 5th) and defense (68.3, 2nd).
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.
The five byes for next week's Big Sky Tournament are locked up by UNC, MSU, WSU, SUU and Montana.
What's Ahead
It's off to Boise and the Big Sky Tournament next week. The Bears have a first round bye and will be either the no. 2 or 3 seed with their first game next Thursday, March 10.
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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