PREVIEW: Bears Head West for First Road Test at Pepperdine

Saturday, November 15

Malibu, Calif.

7 p.m. MST | 6 p.m. PST

University of Northern Colorado

Pepperdine

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Photo by: Dean Popejoy

11/13/2025 11:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado men's basketball travels to Pepperdine for its first road game of the season on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Bears enter the matchup 2-0 after home wins over Colorado College and Colorado Christian, while the Waves are 2-1 following a win over Lincoln. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST/6 p.m. PST.

Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN+ and listen from anywhere at PirateRadio935.com.

HOT START CONTINUES FOR UNC: Northern Colorado followed up its dominant opener with another statement win, defeating Colorado Christian 101-65 on Friday night at Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears (2-0) were lights-out from beyond the arc, hitting 18 three-pointers while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. Eleven players entered the scoring column, eight knocked down a three, and five reached double figures as UNC eclipsed the 100-point mark for the first time this season.

VETERAN CORE LEADS THE WAY: Northern Colorado's experienced trio of Zach Bloch, Brock Wisne, and Quinn Denker set the tone once again. Bloch exploded for a career-high 24 points, connecting on 7-of-11 from deep to tie for the fourth-most threes in a single game in program history. Wisne turned in a perfect 7-for-7 performance from the floor, finishing with 18 points and two made threes, while Denker dished out a career-best 10 assists, matching the fourth-highest single-game total in UNC history, to go along with six points and five rebounds. The trio's leadership and chemistry have powered an offense averaging 96.0 points per game with 48 total assists and a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

DEPTH AND BALANCE DEFINE THE BEARS: UNC's depth continues to shine, with 11 players averaging double-digit minutes and all 11 scoring in Friday's win. Ring Nyeri added 14 points and six rebounds, while Ibu Yamazaki (11 points, three triples) and Ariik Mawien (10 points, five boards) also reached double figures. Egan Shields continued his strong start on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds to boost his team-leading average to 7.5 per game.

DEFENSE, REBOUNDING, AND DISCIPLINE COMPLETE THE FORMULA: While the Bears' offensive fireworks draw attention, their defensive effort and rebounding have been equally dominant. UNC held Colorado Christian to 41 percent shooting, forced 16 turnovers, and owned a 39-22 advantage on the boards, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points. Through two games, Northern Colorado boasts a +21.5 rebounding margin and +35.0 scoring differential.

SCOUTING THE WAVES: Northern Colorado travels west for its first road test of the season against Pepperdine (2-1) on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves are coming off a 113-76 rout of Lincoln, shooting 60.5 percent from the field and scoring 88 points in the paint. Danilo Dozic led the way with a career-high 23 points on 11-for-13 shooting, while Yonatan Levy recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the year. Pepperdine's offensive depth was on full display, as eight players scored at least eight points and the team totaled 26 assists and 26 offensive boards; numbers that highlight the Waves' size, balance, and unselfish style under second-year head coach Ed Schilling.

THE SERIES: Northern Colorado holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against Pepperdine, which dates back to the 1964-65 season.

The programs first met in December 1964, with the Bears falling 85-80 in Malibu. After more than five decades without a matchup, UNC swept a home-and-home series against the Waves in 2017-18 and 2018-19, winning 84-82 in Malibu and 88-80 in Greeley.

Northern Colorado has averaged 86.0 points per game in the two modern-era meetings, both of which were decided by single digits.

IN THE POLLS: Northern Colorado was slotted third in both Big Sky Coaches' and Media polls as the Bears return a talented core from last season's title squad, aiming to remain among the league's elite and contend for another championship in 2025-26. Idaho was selected fourth in both polls after earning its first Big Sky Tournament win since 2017 last year in Boise. The 2026 Big Sky Basketball Championships will take place March 7-11 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho.

UP NEXT: The Bears will take a six-day break before traveling to Malibu, California to kick off a five game road stretch as they take on Pepperdine at 7 p.m. MST.

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