Bears Close Out Road Trip in San Diego

Wednesday, November 29

San Diego, Calif.

8 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

San Diego

11/28/2023 11:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

SETTING THE SCENE

After a week off, UNC looks to bounce back after a 79-68 setback against Radford in the Cancun Challenge Mayan Bracket Championship Game Nov. 22.
The Bears conclude their first road trip of the season at San Diego Wednesday.
Over the four-game road swing, the trip includes games in two different states, two different countries and covers over 5,000 miles.
Saint Thomas led four bears in double-digit scoring against Radford, tallying Saint a team-high 19 points on 7 for 14 from the field, with five boards and four assists.
Riley Abercrombie added 14 points and hauled in a pair of rebounds.
Jaron Rillie dropped in 12 points, with a game-high five assists in his Bears' debut.
UNC Leader in Points: Saint Thomas (19)
UNC Leader in Rebounds: Brock Wisne (7)
UNC Leader in Assists: Jaron Rillie (5)
UNC Leader in Steals: Jaron Rillie (2)
UNC Leader in Blocks: Brock Wisne and Dejour Reaves (1)
The Bears shot 39.7 percent (23-58) from the field, while the Highlanders connected on 46.8 percent (29-62) of their attempts.
RU outrebounded UNC 37-32.
UNC shot 38.7 percent (12-31) from beyond the arc, while RU connected on 35 percent (7-20).
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Mike Rich provides the call on KFKA 103.1/1310 AM.
The game is available on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

SERIES HISTORY

The teams split the four meetings in the series, with UNC trailing 2-1 in San Diego.
San Diego won the first meeting 79-66 at home Jan. 17, 1977.
UNC won two in a row, claiming an 86-83 victory at The Bank Jan. 13, 1978.
In the second round of the 2018 Collegeinsider.com Tournament, the Bears defeated San Diego on the Toreros home floor March 21, 2018, 86-75.
The Toreros won the rematch Dec. 15, 2018, 65-65.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Saint Thomas is a double-double machine, averaging 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
His four double doubles lead the Big Sky and rank fourth nationally.
Thomas leads the Big Sky in field goals made with 35 and offensive rebounds (2.83 per game).
He is second in the league in field-goal attempts (76), points per game (16.0), rebounds (62), defensive rebounds per game (7.5). Thomas ranks 17th in defensive rebounds, 21st in rebounds per game and 34th in total rebounds, nationally.
His 3.33 assists and 2.0 steals per game are fourth best in the Big Sky.
Thomas is just outside the top 10 in the league in free-throw percentage, draining 72.7% of his chances.

SHARPSHOOTER

Wisne knocked down 17 of his 21 attempts from the free-throw line, ranking sixth in the league at 81.0%.
He scored in double figures in the four games, including a career-high 19 against Northern New Mexico and ranks 16th in the Big Sky at 11.3 points per game.

MR. AUTOMATIC

Dejour Reaves' 15.0 points per game, placing him tied for second in the Big Sky, scoring at least 12 points in each game this season.
He made his first 11 free throws of the season and ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 83.3% from the charity stripe.
Reaves is fourth in the league in free-throw percentage at 82.8%, converting 24 of 29 attempts.
From the field, Reaves knocks down 40.8% of his attempts, seventh highest in the Big Sky.

NO FITCH

Riley Abercrombie grabs 4.67 boards per contest, good for 19th in the Big Sky Conference.
His 13-made 3-pointers pace the Bears.

UNDER SMILEY

Head coach Steve Smiley earned his 200th-career win against Northern New Mexico Wednesday, Nov. 8.
He owns the second-highest winning percentage in the program's Division I era, equaling Jeff Linder for the most postseason wins with six.
Since taking over the program before the 2020-21 campaign, five former Bears have played in the professional ranks, while 10 went pro since Smiley arrived in Greeley.
Smiley's squad finished runner-up at the Lobo Classic, with wins over North Dakota State and Jacksonville State before falling in the title game against the host Lobos.
UNC defeated Weber State 88-54 in front of a packed house and a national television audience.
Dalton Knecht led the Big Sky in scoring with 20.2 points per game, earning All-Big Sky Conference honors with teammate Daylen Kountz.
The Bears defeated Portland State in the opening round of the Big Sky Tournament, securing at least one postseason win for Smiley in each of his three years as head coach. UNC and Montana State are the only two Big Sky programs to record a tournament win in his first three seasons.
Under his tutelage, Smiley coached six All-Big Sky selections and four players reached 1,000 points in their career.

2022-23 REVIEW

Last year, UNC fell to No. 3 Houston to open the campaign Nov. 7.
This is the 50th season the Bears are playing in The Bank of Colorado Arena, with an all-time mark of 386-239.
The 2022-23 Bears went 12-20, including 6-12 in the BSC regular season and 1-1 in the BSC Tournament.
The 2022-23 season featured the 43rd most difficult schedule in the nation, with games against seven teams that made postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament teams, at No. 1 Houston and No. 4 Baylor and Montana State. In addition, the Bears faced Colorado (NIT), Eastern Washington (NIT), New Mexico (NIT) and San Jose State (CBI).
Northern Colorado defeated Colorado State in Fort Collins, the first win over the Rams since 2015. The Bears snapped a 14-game losing streak in Fort Collins, dating back to Dec. 2, 1986.