Bears Close Road Trip at Air Force Thursday

Thursday, December 21

Colorado Springs, Colo.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Air Force

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

12/20/2023 10:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Watch Listen: KFKA Live Stats UNC Game Notes Air Force Game Notes

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

SETTING THE SCENE
• The Bears are 4-6 after a 90-68 loss at Colorado Friday, Dec. 15.
• Saint Thomas led all scorers with 27 points.
• Theo Hughes registered a career-high 14 points.
• Jaron Rillie and Dejour Reaves led the Bears in assists and steals with six and four, respectively.
• See page 9 for more details on the Northern Colorado-Colorado game.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN
• Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
• Mike Rich provides the call on KFKA 103.1/1310 AM and available in the UNC app.
• The game is available Altitude Sports and the Mountain West Network, with Justin Adams and Rachel Galligan on the call.
• Live stats available here.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Bears trail the all-time series 3-13, including 1-5 in the DI era.
• Prior to last season's 67-65 Air Force victory in Greeley, the teams last met in Colorado Springs during the 2009-10 campaign.
            • First Meeting: Jan. 26, 1957 | Greeley, Colo. | UNC 88-66
            • Last Meeting: Dec. 20, 2022 | Greeley, Colo. | AF 67-65
            • Last Meeting at Clune: Nov. 21, 2009 | UNC 70-46
            Streak: L, 1

CLOSE CALLS
• UNC's five losses are by a total of 39 points (7.8 ppg).
• Over the last four defeats, the Bears lost by an average 5.0 points per game.
• Of the five losses, three are by one possession, with a fourth by two possessions.

NEARLY A CENTURY IN THE MAKING
• UNC fell 101-99 at Texas A&M – Commerce in double overtime Monday, Dec. 14, 2023.
• UNC last played a multiple overtime game on the road Feb. 14, 1929, a 29-27 win over Wyoming.
• The Bears fell to 5-5 in overtime games that went more than one extra period, including 2-2 in double overtime.

TRIPLE THREAT
• Saint Thomas is a double-double machine, with five and averaging 18.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg.
• Ranks second in the BSC in ppg, rpg and double doubles.
• Nationally, he sits 12th in rpg, 15th in double-doubles and 73rd in points per contest.
• His 35 assists (3.5 ppg) place him fifth in the league.

MR. AUTOMATIC
• Dejour Reaves averages 15.7 ppg, 1.6 spg.
• Fourth in ppg and sixth in spg in the Big Sky.
• He reached double figures in eight games, including a career-high 30 at Texas A&M Commerce.
• Converts 84.6% (33-39) of his free throws.
• Third highest percentage in the Big Sky.
• Hit his first 11 to start the season.

SHARPSHOOTER
• Brock Wisne knocked down 41 of his 79 (51.9%) field-goal attempts.
• Converted 75.0.% (33-44) from the free-throw line.
• He scored in double figures in seven games, including the last three.
o Set a career-high with 19 points against Northern New Mexico.

NO FITCH
• Riley Abercrombie made 36% of his 3-point attempts on the season.
• Ranks sixth in the BSC in made 3-pointers per game and fifth in made triples.

THEO's BIG NIGHT
• Hughes recorded a career-high 14 points, with six boards at Colorado.
• Sank 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line.
• He played a career-high 22 minutes against the Buffaloes.

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
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.