UNC-EWU Clash Thursday with First Place at Stake

Thursday, January 25

Cheney, Wash.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

1/24/2024 4:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Watch Live Stats UNC Game Notes EWU Game Notes

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

SETTING THE SCENE
Northern Colorado opens a two-game road string with first place in the Big Sky Conference at stake, when the Bears clash with Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash., Thursday.

UNC enters the matchup winning seven of its last 10 games, including 5-1 in January. The Eagles own a seven-game winning streak, including 5-0 in league play.

Northern Colorado boasts the top offense in the league at 81.5 points per game, while the Eagles' 79.1 points rank second. Both teams rank in the bottom half of the conference in defense.

From the field, Eastern Washington converts 49.5 percent of its field-goal attempts - tops in the Big Sky - while the Bears 48.1 percent is third, with the fourth-best shooting team nearly two points behind.

This is the first of three possible matchups this season, including a return trip to Greeley Saturday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN
• Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT
• Mike Rich provides the call for UNC on KFKA 103.1/1310 AM and the UNC App.
• Greg Talbott (pbp) and Marc Axton (analyst) have the call for the Eagles on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY
• UNC trails the all-time series 15-19, with three losses before the Division I era.
• The two sides own winning records on their home floor, with the Bears winning four of the 15 meetings in Cheney.
• The last five games have been decided by a combined 24 points, with UNC posting a 2-3 mark.
• Eastern Washington swept the season series during the 2022-23 campaign.
• UNC defeated the Eagles 87-83, Jan. 22, 2022, the Bears' last win in Cheney.

HOW THE TEAMS STACK UP – UNC vs. EWU
            PPG    RPG   APG    FG%   3P%    FT%
EWU   79.1     33.6    17.9    49.5    39.0     74.8
UNC    81.5     29.6   14.7    48.1    34.9      72.2

LAST TIME OUT
• UNC scored 28 straight points on its way to a blowout of Portland State Jan. 20, at Bank of Colorado Arena.
• The Bears outscored Portland State 67-28 over the final 23:45 of the contest, including 54-22 in the second half.

• Click HERE for a full UNC-PSU game recap.

UP NEXT
The Bears travel to Moscow, Idaho, for a clash with the Vandals at 3 p.m. MT Saturday.

NEXT HOME GAME
The Bears return to The Bank Thursday, Feb. 1, when they open a four-game homestand at 6 p.m. against Idaho 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.