Bears Set to Battle CU in Boulder

SETTING THE SCENE

The Bears take on Colorado at the CU Events Center in Boulder Friday in their next to last game before the Christmas break.
UNC is 4-5 after a tough loss in double overtime at Texas A&M Commerce Monday.
- Dejour Reaves led all scorers with 30 points.
- Saint Thomas recorded his fifth double-double with 19 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
- Jaron Rillie dished out eight assists and added eight points.
Colorado is receiving votes in the latest AP and USA Today Coaches Polls after defeating No. 15 Miami 90-63 Sunday at the NABC Brooklyn Showcase.
Tipoff is set for 6 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 Bears trail the all-time series 18-23, including 8-16 in Boulder.
UNC fell 88-77 last season on the Buffaloes home floor.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Saint Thomas is a double-double machine, averaging 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds, ranking second in the Big Sky and 10th in the nation with five double-doubles.
Thomas ranks second in scoring and rebounding per game, while his 94 boards lead the Big Sky and 32nd in the nation. The 8.22 defensive rebounds per game place him second in the league and fifth nationally.

SHARPSHOOTER

Brock Wisne knocked down 39 of 74 (52.7%) field-goal attempts and 73.8% (31 of 42) from the free-throw line.
He scored in double figures in seven games, including the last three.
- He set a career-high 19 against Northern New.

MR. AUTOMATIC

Dejour Reaves averages 16.8 points per game, placing him third in the Big Sky.
- He reached double figures in eight games, including a career-high 30 at Texas A&M Commerce.
He made his first 11 free throws of the season and converts at 83.8% (31-37) clip, second highest in the Big Sky.

NO FITCH

Riley Abercrombie knocks down 37.1% (23-62) of his 3-point attempts, placing him in the top-100 nationally at 90 and the second best in Big Sky.
His 23 3-pointers rank third in the league and 129 in the nation.

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.