Bears Roll Idaho on Senior Night

Saturday, February 22

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

21-8,13-3Big Sky

Idaho

12-16,7-8Big Sky

Idaho

Northern Colo.

2/22/2025 11:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)Postgame Press Conference

By: Michael High, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – On senior night, graduate transfer Isaiah Hawthorne helped propel Northern Colorado to a 92-74 victory over Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena Saturday.

Hawthorne led UNC (21-8, 13-3 Big Sky) with 25 points on 9-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. He added four points at the charity stripe.

Both teams shot well in the opening 20 minutes and the Bears held a 48-47 edge over Idaho (12-16, 7-8 Big Sky) at the intermission. UNC led at the half for the 17^th time in 29 games this season and despite holding the slimmest of margins, the Bears improved to 16-1, when in front at the break.

They continued the hot shooting but turned up the pressure on the defensive end, especially from 3-point range in the second half. Idaho knocked down 6-of-7 field-goal attempts from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes. The Vandals missed 8-of-9 in the second half, including their first eight.

UNC utilized a 17-4 run in the first 5:15 to open a 67-51 gap. Idaho rattled off six straight points and closed to within 10, at 67-57, with 11:37 remaining.

The Bears squashed any hopes of a comeback by the visitors with a 21-7 spurt over the next six and a half minutes, pushing the margin out the largest of the contest at 88-64.

The teams traded baskets most of the rest of the way for the final margin, with Idaho closing to 18 in the final 30 seconds.

Langston Reynolds notched 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. He hit 10-of-15 from the floor, including his only attempt behind the arc.

Senior Quinn Denker dropped 13 points against his former team, with three rebounds, one assist and a steal. He went 5-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-2 from distance and converted both free-throw attempts.

Marcell McCreary added 11 points, three rebounds and an assist. He knocked down 3-of-4 field-goal attempts, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

Brock Wisne chipped in with eight points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Graduate student Jaron Rillie tallied five points, five rebounds and four assists in his final game in front of the home crowd.

Senior Zach Bloch drained a triple, with two rebounds, two assists and one steal.

All 10 Bears that saw action tallied at least two points.

UNC shot 63% (36-57), including 9-of-18 from behind the arc and 69% (11-16) at the free-throw line. The Bears scored 52 points in the paint and 27 from long distance in the game.

Idaho went 29-of-58 from the floor, including 7-of-16 (44%) from 3-point range. The Vandals converted 75% (9-12) at the stripe.

NEXT GAME: UNC heads out for its final road trip of the campaign before heading to the Big Sky Conference Championships in Boise, Idaho. The Bears travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., for a clash with Northern Arizona March 1, before taking on Weber State in Ogden, Utah, March 3.