University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, March 9
Boise, Idaho
5:30 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
24-8,15-3Big Sky
76
vs
52
Weber State
12-22,5-13Big Sky
1
2
F
Weber St.
22
30
52
Northern Colo.
42
34
76
Hawthorne Drops 29 in Win Over Weber State
3/9/2025 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNC Advances to the Big Sky Semifinals
BOISE, Idaho – Isaiah Hawthorne tallied 29 points and helped Northern Colorado advance to the Big Sky semifinals with a 76-52 victory over Weber State at Idaho Central Arena Sunday.
The Bears (24-8) swept all three matchups against Weber State (12-22) this season, including twice in the last six days.
"Tonight was a tremendous team effort and everybody contributed to that victory," head coach Steve Smiley said. "It was great to see our guys get out to such a dominant start to the game, knowing that in a similar situation a year ago, we fell short."
Hawthorne went 10 of 14 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from behind the arc and cashed in all five free-throw attempts. He added seven rebounds, one assist and two steals.
UNC dominated both ends of the floor and carried a 42-22 advantage into the halftime break. The Bears held the Wildcats to just 19% (5-26) from the floor, including 0 for 6 beyond the arc during the first 20 minutes. UNC hit 59% (16-27) of its attempts in the opening stanza, with 5 of 12 (42%) from 3-point range.
"I could tell right away that the guys were locked in and ready to compete with joy," Smiley said. "Regardless of playing well or not, the entire goal is to just advance somehow, someway, but to play our first game and win in this fashion is definitely something we can build upon as the tournament progresses. Go Bears!"
The Bears spread their cushion to their largest of the day at 50-25, with 16:44 remaining in the contest. A quick 10-3 spurt by Weber State cut the gap to 18, with 14:53, but the Wildcats failed to close any further the rest of the way.
Brock Wisne netted 12 points, with two rebounds and three assists. He hit all five of his field-goal attempts and both shots at the charity stripe.
Jaron Rillie stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 9 rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Eleven players logged playing time for UNC and nine tallied points.
Weber State hit 31% (15-49) of its field-goal attempts, including 2 for 12 (17%) from 3-point range.
The Bears made 28 of 53 (53%) from the field, including 8 of 24 (33%) from distance for the game. On the glass, UNC outrebounded Weber State 38-25 and held a 36-22 advantage in the paint.
UP NEXT
UNC faces the winner of Monday's game between No. 4 Idaho State and No. 5 Montana State in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Bears (24-8) swept all three matchups against Weber State (12-22) this season, including twice in the last six days.
"Tonight was a tremendous team effort and everybody contributed to that victory," head coach Steve Smiley said. "It was great to see our guys get out to such a dominant start to the game, knowing that in a similar situation a year ago, we fell short."
Hawthorne went 10 of 14 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from behind the arc and cashed in all five free-throw attempts. He added seven rebounds, one assist and two steals.
UNC dominated both ends of the floor and carried a 42-22 advantage into the halftime break. The Bears held the Wildcats to just 19% (5-26) from the floor, including 0 for 6 beyond the arc during the first 20 minutes. UNC hit 59% (16-27) of its attempts in the opening stanza, with 5 of 12 (42%) from 3-point range.
"I could tell right away that the guys were locked in and ready to compete with joy," Smiley said. "Regardless of playing well or not, the entire goal is to just advance somehow, someway, but to play our first game and win in this fashion is definitely something we can build upon as the tournament progresses. Go Bears!"
The Bears spread their cushion to their largest of the day at 50-25, with 16:44 remaining in the contest. A quick 10-3 spurt by Weber State cut the gap to 18, with 14:53, but the Wildcats failed to close any further the rest of the way.
Brock Wisne netted 12 points, with two rebounds and three assists. He hit all five of his field-goal attempts and both shots at the charity stripe.
Jaron Rillie stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 9 rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Eleven players logged playing time for UNC and nine tallied points.
Weber State hit 31% (15-49) of its field-goal attempts, including 2 for 12 (17%) from 3-point range.
The Bears made 28 of 53 (53%) from the field, including 8 of 24 (33%) from distance for the game. On the glass, UNC outrebounded Weber State 38-25 and held a 36-22 advantage in the paint.
UP NEXT
UNC faces the winner of Monday's game between No. 4 Idaho State and No. 5 Montana State in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Team Stats
Weber
UNC
FG%
.306
.528
3FG%
.167
.333
FT%
.741
.800
RB
25
38
TO
12
16
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballHead 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
