UNC Set for Montana and Montana State

Setting the scene
Northern Colorado hits the road for a pair of games, beginning at Montana Thursday, before heading to Montana State Saturday. The Bears enter with an 8-6 mark, after defeating Denver 86-82 Saturday, finishing the non-conference schedule at 7-6.

UNC begins the weekend as one of just three undefeated teams in Big Sky action, while Idaho State and Sacramento State are winless. Montana is 10-5, including 1-1 in league play and enters with a three-game winning streak after defeating North Dakota State and South Dakota last week in the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge.

Montana State dropped to 6-9, 1-1, with a pair of losses to Oral Roberts and South Dakota State in the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge last week, extending its losing streak to three.

GAME INFORMATION
WATCH                     ESPN+ (Riley Corcoran)
LISTEN                     KFKA 103.1/1310 (Mike Rice)
TIME                          7 p.m.
LOCATION               Dahlberg Arena

LAST TIME OUT

Northern Colorado outlasted Denver 86-82 Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Saint Thomas led the Bears with 23 points, while Jaron Rillie matched his career-high in assists, with 10.
In a tale of two halves, UNC withstood a furious comeback by the Pioneers to win its fourth-straight game.

Full recap here.

HOW THE TEAMS STACK UP – UNC vs. UM
PPG    RPG   APG    FG%   3P%    FT%
UM      77.0    36.3    15.3    47.6    31.8    76.2
UNC   80.1    35.4    14.1    47.3    34.8    71.8

HOW THE TEAMS STACK UP – UNC vs. MSU
PPG    RPG   APG    FG%   3P%    FT%
MSU   72.5    30.3    13.1    44.0    33.3    75.1
UNC   80.1    35.4    14.1    47.3    34.8    71.8

SERIES HISTORY - Montana
• UNC trails the all-time series 16-27, including 14-24 in the Division I era, which begins with the 2006-07 campaign.
• The Bears own a 6-4 mark over the last 10 games in the series.
• In Missoula, Mont., the Bears are 10-14, with five victories in their last seven trips to Montana.

SERIES HISTORY – Montana State
• UNC trails the all-time series 28-47, including 17-18 in the Division I era, which begins with the 2006-07 campaign.
• The Bears own a 3-7 mark over the last 10 games in the series, dropping the last five meetings.
• In Bozeman, Mont., the Bears are 10-18, with just two victories in their last seven trips.

UP NEXT
After wrapping up the opening road swing of the Big Sky Conference schedule, UNC returns home for a pair of conference games beginning Thursday, Jan. The Bears open the homestand with Sacramento State Thursday, followed by Portland State Saturday. Both games tip off at 6 p.m.

NEXT HOME GAME
The Bears return to The Bank Thursday Jan. 18, against Sacramento State.

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.