Bears Host Denver Saturday

Calendar

Nov 3

7:30 p.m. MT

Men's Basketball

vs Colorado College

Nov 7

6 p.m. MT

Men's Basketball

vs Colorado Christian

Nov 15

TBA

Men's Basketball

at Pepperdine

Nov 21

5:30 p.m. MT | 4:30 PT

Men's Basketball

vs St. Thomas

Nov 22

6 p.m. MT | 5 p.m. PT

Men's Basketball

at Portland

Nov 23

12:30 p.m. MT | 11:30 a.m. PT

Men's Basketball

vs California State - Fullerton

Nov 26

TBA

Men's Basketball

at Air Force

Nov 29

6 p.m. MT

Men's Basketball

vs Regis

Dec 3

TBA

Men's Basketball

at Omaha

Setting the scene
UNC closes out its portion of the Big Sky–Summit League Challenge Saturday, when the Bears host Dever at 6 p.m. They enter with a 7-6 mark, winning three straight after defeating North Dakota 97-87 Wednesday in Fargo, N.D.

Denver improved to 10-6, with a 95-82 home win over Idaho State in overtime Wednesday.

Both sides played Northern New Mexico, Colorado College, Texas A&M – Commerce and Colorado State, with the Bears posting a 2-2 record, while the Pioneers went 3-1.

This is the final of two games for each side in the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge, with both sides holding a 1-0 mark in the event.

GAME INFORMATION
WATCH                     ESPN+ (Jason Alvine – PxP | Darryl Jacobs – Analyst)
LISTEN                     KFKA 103.1/1310 (Mike Rice)
TIME                          6 p.m.
LOCATION               Bank of Colorado Arena

ABOUT THE BIG SKY-SUMMIT LEAGUE CHALLENGE
The inaugural Big Sky–Summit Challenge begins Wednesday, with each team playing two games against the opposing conference. Both men's and women's results count equally into the result, with a combined champion declared after the 36 total games.

Based on whether they occur at home or on the road determines the tally toward the final conference total. A team's win on their home floor counts one point, while a road victory awards the league one and one-half points for the result. The conference with the most total points combined between men's and women's results in that league being declared the winner.

In the case of a tie after all 36 contests, the margin of victory accounts for the first tiebreaker. If there is still a tie following the calculation of the margin of victory, the two commissioners will compete in an arm-wrestling contest at the Final Four to determine the champion. The championship trophy goes to the winning side and placed on display at its office for the following year until the challenge commences for the 2024-25 season, when the teams compete for bragging rights once again.

LAST TIME OUT
• Jaron Rillie's career-high 30 points fueled Northern Colorado's 97-87 victory over North Dakota at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center Wednesday. Saint Thomas finished with 21 points and 12 boards, his seventh double-double of the season. Zach Bloch tallied 13 points on 2 of 3 from the field, hitting both of his attempts beyond the arc and sinking all seven free-throw attempts.
Full recap here.

HOW THE TEAMS STACK UP
PPG    RPG   APG    FG%   3P%    FT%
DU      85.1    39.3    13.6    45.6    35.9    74.7
UNC   79.6    35.6    13.6    46.9    34.0    71.3

SERIES HISTORY
UNC leads the series 10-8 since the Bears began their transition from Division II to Division I in 2003. Northern Colorado enters Saturday's game with a four-game winning streak. UNC holds a 5-4 edge at Bank of Colorado Arena since 2003, including two straight.

UP NEXT
UNC opens its Big Sky Conference road schedule at Montana Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m., before taking on Montana State at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.

NEXT HOME GAME
The Bears return to The Bank Saturday, Thursday Jan. 18, against Sacramento State. They host Portland State Saturday, Jan. 20. Both games tip off at 6 p.m.

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.