Bears Close Home Slate Against Idaho and EWU

Thursday, February 22

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Idaho

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2/21/2024 2:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado (16-10, 9-4 BSC) hosts Idaho (10-16, 4-9 BSC) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Bank of Colorado Arena.

This is just the eighth all-time meeting between the two sides in Greeley.

The Bears are 10-2 at home this season, including 3-1 on their last homestand. Idaho enters with a 3-8 mark on the road, with two wins in its last three away from ICCU arena.

UNC trails Eastern Washington (11-2) by two games for the top spot in the Big Sky, while holding a half-game advantage over Weber State (9-5) and a game lead over Montana (8-5). The Bears play Eastern Washington and Weber State in back-to-back contests after the clash with the Vandals. They host Eastern Washington Saturday, before traveling to Ogden, Utah, Thursday, Feb. 29.

UNC earned a split on its last road trip, when the Bears rebounded from a loss at Portland State with an 80-75 victory at Sacramento State Saturday, Feb. 17, knocking down 58.7% from the field, including 45.5% from 3-point range. Northern Colorado hit 17 of 21 shots in the second half of its 80-75 victory over Sacramento State at The Nest Saturday.

UNC outscored the Hornets 53-43 over the final 20 minutes of action. Full recap of the UNC and Sacramento State game available here.

Riley Abercrombie, Theo Hughes, Jalen Page and Jaron Rillie will be honored in a Senior Night pregame ceremony prior to the Eastern Washington Saturday, beginning at 5:40 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN
• Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
• UNC broadcast - Mike Rice provides the call on KFKA 103.1/1310 AM and the UNC App.
• The UNC App is available on Apple and Google.
• Jason Alvine (PBP) and Darryl Jacobs (Analyst) have the call on ESPN+.

HOW THE TEAMS STACK UP
               PPG     RPG     APG     FG%    3P%     FT%
Idaho      69.1      31.9     12.6      44.8      33.7     72.6
UNC       80.6      35.5     14.5      48.4      35.5     71.7

HOME SWEET HOME
• UNC owns a 10-2 mark at home, tied for the sixth most wins in a single season.
• The 10 wins are the most at Bank of Colorado Arena since the 2019-20 campaign, when the Bears posted a mark of 11-3.
• They recorded double-digit wins in three-consecutive seasons from 2017-20, with 14 during the 2017-18 campaign and back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
• The .833 winning percentage ranks fifth since 1975-75, the Bears' first full season at The Bank.
• UNC recorded a winning record at home in 17 of 19 seasons at the DI level, with at least 10 in eight of those years.

BLESSING IN DISGUISE
• A Dejour Reaves injury forced the Bears to change their starting lineup before the Northern Arizona game.
• UNC owns a 12-3 mark since switch.
• The Bears' offense increased from 76.9 points per game to 83.3, while the shooting percentage jumped from 43.8 to 51.7 over the last 15 games.
• Bench production is up from 16.1 to 23.6 points per game since moving Zach Bloch into the starting role.
• Bloch's production is up three points per contest, averaging 4.3 through the first 11 games and 7.3 over the last 16. He hit 33.3% from the field and from 3-point range through the first 11 games, up to 50.7% and 46.3% over the last 15.
• Reaves averaged 14.9 as a starter and 15.5 coming off the bench and is on a four-game streak with at least 20 points, averaging 24.3 points per game the last two weeks. As a starter, Reaves shot 43.2% from the field, with 31.5% beyond the arc. He's improved to 50.6% and 46.7%, respectively since his return.

UP NEXT
The Bears drop the curtain on the 2023-24 home slate Saturday with a clash against the Big Sky Conference leading Eagles. Prior to the 6 p.m. start against Eastern Washington, Riley Abercrombie, Theo Hughes, Jalen Page and Jaron Rillie will be honored in a Senior Night ceremony. Both games of the final homestand tip 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.