University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Tuesday, March 11
Boise, Idaho
7 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
25-8,15-3Big Sky
72
vs
45
Montana State
15-18,9-9Big Sky
1
2
F
Montana St.
17
28
45
Northern Colo.
29
43
72
Team Stats
MSU
UNC
FG%
.236
.500
3FG%
.167
.333
FT%
.833
.722
RB
24
43
TO
7
11
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
Bears Roar Into Big Sky Title Game
3/11/2025 10:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Defense Propels UNC Past Bobcats in Semifinals
BOISE, Idaho – Northern Colorado clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Championship game with one of its most dominant performances of the season Tuesday at Idaho Central Arena.
The Bears (25-8) made 15 buckets in the second half, two more than they allowed Montana State (15-18) in the entire contest on their way to a 72-45 victory.
With the victory, Northern Colorado advanced to the title game during head coach Steve Smiley's tenure. The 25 wins equal the 2009-10 team for second most in program history, one off the all-time mark. Jeff Linder's 2017-18 squad posted a 26-12 record.
UNC held Montana State to 24% (13-55) from the field, the lowest by an opponent in five seasons under Smiley. The Bobcats converted just four buckets on 26 attempts (15%) in the first half, while making 27 of its 54 attempts.
Northern Colorado held the Bobcats for the first 8:06 of the game and opened a 15-0 advantage. The Bears and Montana State traded baskets over the final 12 minutes and led 29-17 at the break.
UNC continued to clamp down on defense in the second half and its lead ballooned to 30, at 64-34, with 3:39 remaining.
Jaron Rillie led the Bears with 13 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists.
Brock Wisne and Quinn Denker dropped in 12 point each. Wisne hit five of his seven shot attempts, with five rebounds and two steals. Denker grabbed two rebounds and handed out a team-high four assists.
Marcell McCreary tallied 11 points, a game-high nine rebounds, with one assist and two steals.
Isaiah Hawthorne and Langston Reynolds accounted for nine points and five rebounds each.
Zach Bloch knocked down 2-of-3 from behind the arc for six points.
UNC outscored the Bobcats 42-16 in the paint and held a 43-24 advantage on the glass.
The Bears face the winner of the second semifinal between No. 6 Idaho and No. 2 Montana in the final at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. The G.O.A.T. Sports Bar will host a watch party Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
The Bears (25-8) made 15 buckets in the second half, two more than they allowed Montana State (15-18) in the entire contest on their way to a 72-45 victory.
With the victory, Northern Colorado advanced to the title game during head coach Steve Smiley's tenure. The 25 wins equal the 2009-10 team for second most in program history, one off the all-time mark. Jeff Linder's 2017-18 squad posted a 26-12 record.
UNC held Montana State to 24% (13-55) from the field, the lowest by an opponent in five seasons under Smiley. The Bobcats converted just four buckets on 26 attempts (15%) in the first half, while making 27 of its 54 attempts.
Northern Colorado held the Bobcats for the first 8:06 of the game and opened a 15-0 advantage. The Bears and Montana State traded baskets over the final 12 minutes and led 29-17 at the break.
UNC continued to clamp down on defense in the second half and its lead ballooned to 30, at 64-34, with 3:39 remaining.
Jaron Rillie led the Bears with 13 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists.
Brock Wisne and Quinn Denker dropped in 12 point each. Wisne hit five of his seven shot attempts, with five rebounds and two steals. Denker grabbed two rebounds and handed out a team-high four assists.
Marcell McCreary tallied 11 points, a game-high nine rebounds, with one assist and two steals.
Isaiah Hawthorne and Langston Reynolds accounted for nine points and five rebounds each.
Zach Bloch knocked down 2-of-3 from behind the arc for six points.
UNC outscored the Bobcats 42-16 in the paint and held a 43-24 advantage on the glass.
The Bears face the winner of the second semifinal between No. 6 Idaho and No. 2 Montana in the final at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. The G.O.A.T. Sports Bar will host a watch party Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Head Coach Smiley, Jaron Rillie, Zach Bloch, and Isaiah Hawthorne Post Game Press Conference v Idaho
Sunday, February 23
Head Coach Steve Smiley, Jaron Rillie, and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs E Washington
Friday, February 21
Head Coach Steve Smiley, Quinn Denker, and Jaron Rillie Post Game Press Conference vs Montana State
Sunday, February 09
Langston Reynolds and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs NAU
Saturday, February 08
