University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Four Bears Collect Big Sky Awards
3/7/2025 1:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FARMINGTON, Utah – Following a record-breaking season, Northern Colorado placed four on All-Big Sky Conference teams, voted on by the head coaches, league officials announced Friday.
"We're very happy to see that three of our players were rewarded with All-Big Sky Conference First Team honors," head coach Steve Smiley said. "I do believe that it's a reflection of the success of our team. Langston, Isaiah, and Jaron are extremely worthy of this honor, and to be honest, I believe that all three were worthy of Big Sky Conference Player of the Year consideration, as well! Additionally, I'm really glad to see that Zach was selected to the Big Sky All-Defensive team, as I believe he is one of the top defensive players in the Big Sky and has been for the past couple of years. Congrats to all of our Bears that received these awards and now we focus on the tournament in Boise. Go Bears!"
Langston Reynolds, Isaiah Hawthorne and Jaron Rillie collected All-Big Sky Conference First Team honors, while Zach Bloch earned a spot on the All-Big Sky Conference Defensive Team.
Reynolds earned a unanimous selection after averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. He hit 60.3% of his shot attempts (193-320), including 35.9% (14-39) from 3-point range and 67.4% (95-141) at the free-throw line.
He led the conference in field-goal percentage, while ranking third in field goals, fifth in points per game, sixth in points and free throw attempts, seventh in free throws, minutes played, rebounds and defensive rebounds, eighth in assists per game and double-doubles and 10th in the league in assists and assists-to-turnover ratio.
Hawthorne netted 17.4 points, 5.4 rebound, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest. He sank 49.1% (174-354) from the floor, including 39.2% (60-153) and 81.6% (115-141) at the charity stripe.
He ranked fourth in the conference in field-goal attempts, free-throw percentage, points and points per game, fifth in 3-point field goals and 3-point field-goals per game, sixth in field goals, free-throw attempts and 3-point attempts, seventh in field-goal percentage, eighth in double-doubles and ninth in rebounds.
Rillie averaged 11.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. From the field, he hit 48.8% (131-268) of his field-goal attempts, including 40.2% (45-112) from 3-point range and 83.6% (56-67) at the free-throw line.
He led the league in assists-to-turnover ratio, ranking third in assists and assists per game, seventh in defensive rebounds, eighth in rebounds-per-game and ninth in minutes played.
Bloch netted 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks per contest; offensively, he averaged 6.6 points and 1.2 assists.
Big Sky Conference Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Dylan Darling, Idaho State
Newcomer of the Year: Dylan Darling, Idaho State *
Freshman of the Year: Evan Otten, Idaho State
Defensive Player of the Year: Tre-Vaughn Minott, Portland State
Top Reserve: Money Williams, Montana
Coach of the Year: Travis DeCuire, Montana
All-Big Sky Conference First Team
Dylan Darling, Idaho State *
Langston Reynolds, Northern Colorado *
Trent McLaughlin, Northern Arizona
Blaise Threatt, Weber State
Joe Pridgen, Montana
Isaiah Hawthorne, Northern Colorado
Jaron Rillie, Northern Colorado
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
Malik Moore, Montana
Carson Towt, Northern Arizona
Terri Miller Jr., Portland State
Jacob Holt, Sacramento State
Money Williams, Montana
Brandon Whitney, Montana
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention
Jaylin Henderson, Portland State
Qiant Myers, Portland State
Jake O'Neil, Idaho State
Brandon Walker, Montana State
Jack Payne, Idaho
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Defensive Team
Tre-Vaughn Minott, Portland State (DPOY)
Carson Towt, Northern Arizona*
Brandon Whitney, Montana
Jake O'Neil, Idaho State
Zach Bloch, Northern Colorado
* Indicates a Unanimous Decision
"We're very happy to see that three of our players were rewarded with All-Big Sky Conference First Team honors," head coach Steve Smiley said. "I do believe that it's a reflection of the success of our team. Langston, Isaiah, and Jaron are extremely worthy of this honor, and to be honest, I believe that all three were worthy of Big Sky Conference Player of the Year consideration, as well! Additionally, I'm really glad to see that Zach was selected to the Big Sky All-Defensive team, as I believe he is one of the top defensive players in the Big Sky and has been for the past couple of years. Congrats to all of our Bears that received these awards and now we focus on the tournament in Boise. Go Bears!"
Langston Reynolds, Isaiah Hawthorne and Jaron Rillie collected All-Big Sky Conference First Team honors, while Zach Bloch earned a spot on the All-Big Sky Conference Defensive Team.
Reynolds earned a unanimous selection after averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. He hit 60.3% of his shot attempts (193-320), including 35.9% (14-39) from 3-point range and 67.4% (95-141) at the free-throw line.
He led the conference in field-goal percentage, while ranking third in field goals, fifth in points per game, sixth in points and free throw attempts, seventh in free throws, minutes played, rebounds and defensive rebounds, eighth in assists per game and double-doubles and 10th in the league in assists and assists-to-turnover ratio.
Hawthorne netted 17.4 points, 5.4 rebound, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest. He sank 49.1% (174-354) from the floor, including 39.2% (60-153) and 81.6% (115-141) at the charity stripe.
He ranked fourth in the conference in field-goal attempts, free-throw percentage, points and points per game, fifth in 3-point field goals and 3-point field-goals per game, sixth in field goals, free-throw attempts and 3-point attempts, seventh in field-goal percentage, eighth in double-doubles and ninth in rebounds.
Rillie averaged 11.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. From the field, he hit 48.8% (131-268) of his field-goal attempts, including 40.2% (45-112) from 3-point range and 83.6% (56-67) at the free-throw line.
He led the league in assists-to-turnover ratio, ranking third in assists and assists per game, seventh in defensive rebounds, eighth in rebounds-per-game and ninth in minutes played.
Bloch netted 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks per contest; offensively, he averaged 6.6 points and 1.2 assists.
Big Sky Conference Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Dylan Darling, Idaho State
Newcomer of the Year: Dylan Darling, Idaho State *
Freshman of the Year: Evan Otten, Idaho State
Defensive Player of the Year: Tre-Vaughn Minott, Portland State
Top Reserve: Money Williams, Montana
Coach of the Year: Travis DeCuire, Montana
All-Big Sky Conference First Team
Dylan Darling, Idaho State *
Langston Reynolds, Northern Colorado *
Trent McLaughlin, Northern Arizona
Blaise Threatt, Weber State
Joe Pridgen, Montana
Isaiah Hawthorne, Northern Colorado
Jaron Rillie, Northern Colorado
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
Malik Moore, Montana
Carson Towt, Northern Arizona
Terri Miller Jr., Portland State
Jacob Holt, Sacramento State
Money Williams, Montana
Brandon Whitney, Montana
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention
Jaylin Henderson, Portland State
Qiant Myers, Portland State
Jake O'Neil, Idaho State
Brandon Walker, Montana State
Jack Payne, Idaho
2024-25 All-Big Sky Conference Defensive Team
Tre-Vaughn Minott, Portland State (DPOY)
Carson Towt, Northern Arizona*
Brandon Whitney, Montana
Jake O'Neil, Idaho State
Zach Bloch, Northern Colorado
* Indicates a Unanimous Decision
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballHead Coach Smiley, Jaron Rillie, Zach Bloch, and Isaiah Hawthorne Post Game Press Conference v Idaho
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Head Coach Steve Smiley, Jaron Rillie, and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs E Washington
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Head Coach Steve Smiley, Quinn Denker, and Jaron Rillie Post Game Press Conference vs Montana State
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Langston Reynolds and Quinn Denker Post Game Press Conference vs NAU
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