University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Monday, March 3
Ogden, Utah
7 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
23-8,15-3Big Sky
68
at
63
Weber State
11-21,5-13Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colo. | 24 | 44 | 68 |
| Weber St. | 23 | 40 | 63 |
CHAMPIONS!
3/3/2025 10:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC Wins Big Sky Regular Season Championship
OGDEN, Utah – March is about wins and losses, not style points and that is exactly what Northern Colorado produced Monday at the Dee Events Center.
UNC (23-8, 15-3 BSC) ground out a 68-63 victory over Weber State (11-21, 5-13 BSC), winning its first Big Sky Conference Regular-Season Championship in the Steve Smiley era.
Jaron Rillie carried the Bears anemic offense in the first half, accounting for 11 of his team's 24 points.
The 24 points are the lowest in any half for UNC this season, hitting just 9 of 30 (30%) from the floor, including 6 of 18 (33%)from 3-point range. The Bears held Weber State to 9 of 23 (39%) on field-goal attempts, including 2 of 6 from behind the arc and carried a 24-23 advantage into the locker room at the break.
They improved to 18-1 when leading at half and proved the championship caliber team they displayed over the two-month grind of conference play.
Both offenses improved in the final 20 minutes, with the Bears holding a 44-40 advantage. UNC shot 43% (12 of 28) in the second half and 36% (21 of 51) for the game.
The Bears entered with the nation's best shooting percentage at 51%. They overcame the poor shooting by converting 14 Weber State turnovers into 18 points.
UNC opened its biggest cushion at 53-40, with 5:15 remaining, but the Wildcats quickly answered. In 1:16, they sliced the deficit to 53-48, with an 8-0 spurt.
After the final media timeout, Langston Reynolds finished off a set play and Isaiah Hawthorne sank a three, spreading the gap back out to 10 with 2:01 left.
Weber State closed to within three twice in the final minute, but UNC converted enough at the free-throw line to seal the victory and the title.
Rillie recorded 13 points in the second half and finished with a season-high of 24. He scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 games, including four with at least 20 points.
In the second half, Marcell McCreary sank 4 of 6, all from 3-point range, tallying 12 of his 14 points.
Isaiah Hawthorne netted 12 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes.
UP NEXT
UNC opens its Big Sky Conference Tournament in the quarterfinals at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. The Bears face the winner of Saturday's opening-round matchup between No. 9 seed Weber State and No. 10 seed Sacramento State.
Bears fans, let's celebrate! UNC Men's Basketball clinched Big Sky Regular Season Co-Champions! You can share in the pride and excitement by making a gift to the Roundball Club. The Roundball Club ensures our men's basketball student-athletes have elevated resources to compete at the highest level and earn these championship moments. Donate today: https://www.give2unc.org/roundballclub
2025 Big Sky Men's Basketball Seedings
1. Northern Colorado (15-3) – UNC & UM 1-1 v PSU; UNC 2-0 v ISU, UM was 1-1 to earn UNC #1 seed
2. Montana (15-3/14-4)
3. Portland State (11-7)
4. Idaho State (10-8)
5. Montana State (9-9)
6. Idaho (8-10) – UI went 1-1 v UNC, NAU was 0-2. Gives UI #6 seed
7. Northern Arizona (8-10)
8. Eastern Washington (6-12/7-11)
9. Weber State (5-13)
10. Sacramento State (3-15)
UNC (23-8, 15-3 BSC) ground out a 68-63 victory over Weber State (11-21, 5-13 BSC), winning its first Big Sky Conference Regular-Season Championship in the Steve Smiley era.
Jaron Rillie carried the Bears anemic offense in the first half, accounting for 11 of his team's 24 points.
The 24 points are the lowest in any half for UNC this season, hitting just 9 of 30 (30%) from the floor, including 6 of 18 (33%)from 3-point range. The Bears held Weber State to 9 of 23 (39%) on field-goal attempts, including 2 of 6 from behind the arc and carried a 24-23 advantage into the locker room at the break.
They improved to 18-1 when leading at half and proved the championship caliber team they displayed over the two-month grind of conference play.
Both offenses improved in the final 20 minutes, with the Bears holding a 44-40 advantage. UNC shot 43% (12 of 28) in the second half and 36% (21 of 51) for the game.
The Bears entered with the nation's best shooting percentage at 51%. They overcame the poor shooting by converting 14 Weber State turnovers into 18 points.
UNC opened its biggest cushion at 53-40, with 5:15 remaining, but the Wildcats quickly answered. In 1:16, they sliced the deficit to 53-48, with an 8-0 spurt.
After the final media timeout, Langston Reynolds finished off a set play and Isaiah Hawthorne sank a three, spreading the gap back out to 10 with 2:01 left.
Weber State closed to within three twice in the final minute, but UNC converted enough at the free-throw line to seal the victory and the title.
Rillie recorded 13 points in the second half and finished with a season-high of 24. He scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 games, including four with at least 20 points.
In the second half, Marcell McCreary sank 4 of 6, all from 3-point range, tallying 12 of his 14 points.
Isaiah Hawthorne netted 12 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes.
UP NEXT
UNC opens its Big Sky Conference Tournament in the quarterfinals at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. The Bears face the winner of Saturday's opening-round matchup between No. 9 seed Weber State and No. 10 seed Sacramento State.
Bears fans, let's celebrate! UNC Men's Basketball clinched Big Sky Regular Season Co-Champions! You can share in the pride and excitement by making a gift to the Roundball Club. The Roundball Club ensures our men's basketball student-athletes have elevated resources to compete at the highest level and earn these championship moments. Donate today: https://www.give2unc.org/roundballclub
2025 Big Sky Men's Basketball Seedings
1. Northern Colorado (15-3) – UNC & UM 1-1 v PSU; UNC 2-0 v ISU, UM was 1-1 to earn UNC #1 seed
2. Montana (15-3/14-4)
3. Portland State (11-7)
4. Idaho State (10-8)
5. Montana State (9-9)
6. Idaho (8-10) – UI went 1-1 v UNC, NAU was 0-2. Gives UI #6 seed
7. Northern Arizona (8-10)
8. Eastern Washington (6-12/7-11)
9. Weber State (5-13)
10. Sacramento State (3-15)
Team Stats
UNC
Weber
FG%
.362
.431
3FG%
.387
.316
FT%
.778
.813
RB
38
33
TO
13
14
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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