UNC Opens Road Trip In Lone Star State

Monday, December 11

Commerce, Texas

10 a.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Texas A&M - Commerce

12/10/2023 12:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

SETTING THE SCENE

UNC plays its third game in two weeks and first in nine days after taking last week off for final exams.
The Bears close out the pre-Christmas schedule with a three-game road trip, with stops in Boulder, Colo., and Colorado Springs to follow Monday's contest in The Lone Star State.
This is the second all-time meeting between UNC and Texas A&M – Commerce, with the Bears claiming an 80-77 triumph at The Bank last season.
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m.
Mike Rich provides the call on KFKA 103.1/1310 AM.
The game is available on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

LAST TIME OUT

Trailing CSUN much of the second half, the Bears cut the deficit to one on a three from the top of the key by Saint Thomas, with 2:14 remaining.
Langston Reynolds evened the score at 71-71 when he converted one of two at the free-throw line with two minutes left.
Thomas drained 3 of 4 at the charity stripe and Brock Wisne added 1 of two in the last 82 seconds to secure the victory.
Saint Thomas recorded his first-career 30-plus game in the victory.

UNC Leader in Points: Saint Thomas (31)
UNC Leader in Rebounds: Brock Wisne (9)
UNC Leader in Assists: Saint Thomas (4)
UNC Leader in Steals: Dejour Reaves (4)
UNC Leader in Blocks: Saint Thomas, Jaron Rillie, Theo Hughes (1)

SERIES HISTORY

The Bears won the only meeting on the hardwood between the two programs.
UNC defeated Texas A&M – Commerce last season 80-77, in Greeley.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Saint Thomas is a double-double machine, averaging 17.0 points and 9.6 rebounds, ranking second in the Big Sky Conference and 19th in the nation with four double-doubles through eight contests.
Thomas leads the Big Sky in field goals made with 35 offensive rebounds (2.83 per game).
He is second in the league in scoring, rebounding, steals (2.0 spg), while his 3.75 assists per contest places him third, with the 30 total helpers ranking fourth.

SHARPSHOOTER

Wisne knocked down 36 of 69 (52.2%) field-goal attempts and 70.6% from the free-throw line, converting 24 of 34 attempts from the free-throw line, 11th-best in the BSC.
He scored in double figures in six of the eight games, including a career-high 19 against Northern New Mexico and ranks 13th in the Big Sky Conference at 12.1 points per game.
His 2.12 offensive boards per game rank seventh in the conference.

MR. AUTOMATIC

Dejour Reaves' 15.1 points per game, placing him fourth in the Big Sky, scoring in double figures in seven of the eight games.
He made his first 11 free throws of the season and hits 84.8% (28-33) from the free-throw line, third highest in the Big Sky Conference.
From the field, Reaves knocks down 41.0% of his attempts, seventh highest in the league.

NO FITCH

Riley Abercrombie grabs 5.0 boards per contest, good for 16th in the Big Sky Conference.
His 2.38 3-point Field Goals per game and 19 made 3-pointers pace the Bears.
- He ranks sixth and ninth in the Big Sky Conference, respectively.

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.

UP NEXT
The Bears continue their three-game road swing in Boulder, Colo., against the Buffaloes Friday, Dec. 15, before taking on Air Force Thursday, Dec. 21 in Colorado Springs.

NEXT HOME MATCH
UNC returns to The Bank Saturday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m., when the Bears open Big Sky Conference play against Northern Arizona. To purchase tickets, visit uncbears.com/tickets or call 970-351-4849. Tickets can also be purchased at the Campus Commons Ticket Office, Monday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.