University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Men’s Basketball Announces Full 2025-26 Schedule
8/25/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – The Northern Colorado men's basketball program announced its 2025-26 schedule Monday, featuring a challenging nonconference slate and an 18-game Big Sky schedule that tips off in January.
The Bears, coming off arguably the best season in program history, will play 15 games at Bank of Colorado Arena, including eight during Big Sky play. UNC opens the season at home Nov. 3 against Colorado College before hosting Colorado Christian Nov. 7.
Northern Colorado's first road trip comes Nov. 15 with a matchup at Pepperdine before heading north for three games at the Portland Invitational Nov. 21–23. The Bears face St. Thomas, host Portland, and Cal State Fullerton during the three-day event.
Other notable nonconference contests include a road matchup at Air Force (Nov. 26), a Big Sky/Summit League Challenge series against Omaha (Dec. 3) and South Dakota (Dec. 6), and a Dec. 16 trip to Lubbock to face Big 12 power Texas Tech. UNC also hosts Denver on Dec. 20 before visiting Colorado on Dec. 28 to close nonconference play.
Big Sky action begins Jan. 1 on the road at Montana State, with UNC's conference home opener set for Jan. 8 against Idaho State. The Bears will also host Weber State (Jan. 10), Montana State (Jan. 19), Idaho (Jan. 29), Eastern Washington (Jan. 31), Sacramento State (Feb. 12), Portland State (Feb. 14), Northern Arizona (Feb. 21), and Montana (March 2) throughout league play.
The Big Sky Tournament is scheduled for March 7-11 in Boise, Idaho, where the Bears will look to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
UNC returns 8 from last year's squad and welcomes 8 newcomers, building a roster that blends experience and fresh talent heading into the new campaign.
FULL 2025-26 UNC MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 3 – COLORADO COLLEGE
Nov. 7 – COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Nov. 15 – at Pepperdine
Nov. 21 – vs. St. Thomas (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 22 – at Portland (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 23 – vs. Cal State Fullerton (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 26 – at Air Force
Nov. 29 – REGIS
Dec. 3 – at Omaha (Big Sky/Summit League Challenge)
Dec. 6 – SOUTH DAKOTA (Big Sky/Summit League Challenge)
Dec. 16 – at Texas Tech
Dec. 20 – DENVER
Dec. 28 – at Colorado
*Jan. 1 – at Montana State
*Jan. 3 – at Montana
*Jan. 8 – IDAHO STATE
*Jan. 10 – WEBER STATE
*Jan. 15 – at Portland State
*Jan. 17 – at Sacramento State
*Jan. 19 – MONTANA STATE
*Jan. 24 – at Northern Arizona
*Jan. 29 – IDAHO
*Jan. 31 – EASTERN WASHINGTON
*Feb. 5 – at Weber State
*Feb. 7 – at Idaho State
*Feb. 12 – SACRAMENTO STATE
*Feb. 14 – PORTLAND STATE
*Feb. 21 – NORTHERN ARIZONA
*Feb. 26 – at Eastern Washington
*Feb. 28 – at Idaho
*March 2 – MONTANA
March 7–11 – at Big Sky Tournament (Boise, Idaho)
*Denotes Big Sky Conference games.
Bold indicates home games at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Follow the Bears
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
The Bears, coming off arguably the best season in program history, will play 15 games at Bank of Colorado Arena, including eight during Big Sky play. UNC opens the season at home Nov. 3 against Colorado College before hosting Colorado Christian Nov. 7.
Northern Colorado's first road trip comes Nov. 15 with a matchup at Pepperdine before heading north for three games at the Portland Invitational Nov. 21–23. The Bears face St. Thomas, host Portland, and Cal State Fullerton during the three-day event.
Other notable nonconference contests include a road matchup at Air Force (Nov. 26), a Big Sky/Summit League Challenge series against Omaha (Dec. 3) and South Dakota (Dec. 6), and a Dec. 16 trip to Lubbock to face Big 12 power Texas Tech. UNC also hosts Denver on Dec. 20 before visiting Colorado on Dec. 28 to close nonconference play.
Big Sky action begins Jan. 1 on the road at Montana State, with UNC's conference home opener set for Jan. 8 against Idaho State. The Bears will also host Weber State (Jan. 10), Montana State (Jan. 19), Idaho (Jan. 29), Eastern Washington (Jan. 31), Sacramento State (Feb. 12), Portland State (Feb. 14), Northern Arizona (Feb. 21), and Montana (March 2) throughout league play.
The Big Sky Tournament is scheduled for March 7-11 in Boise, Idaho, where the Bears will look to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
UNC returns 8 from last year's squad and welcomes 8 newcomers, building a roster that blends experience and fresh talent heading into the new campaign.
FULL 2025-26 UNC MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 3 – COLORADO COLLEGE
Nov. 7 – COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Nov. 15 – at Pepperdine
Nov. 21 – vs. St. Thomas (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 22 – at Portland (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 23 – vs. Cal State Fullerton (Portland Invitational – Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 26 – at Air Force
Nov. 29 – REGIS
Dec. 3 – at Omaha (Big Sky/Summit League Challenge)
Dec. 6 – SOUTH DAKOTA (Big Sky/Summit League Challenge)
Dec. 16 – at Texas Tech
Dec. 20 – DENVER
Dec. 28 – at Colorado
*Jan. 1 – at Montana State
*Jan. 3 – at Montana
*Jan. 8 – IDAHO STATE
*Jan. 10 – WEBER STATE
*Jan. 15 – at Portland State
*Jan. 17 – at Sacramento State
*Jan. 19 – MONTANA STATE
*Jan. 24 – at Northern Arizona
*Jan. 29 – IDAHO
*Jan. 31 – EASTERN WASHINGTON
*Feb. 5 – at Weber State
*Feb. 7 – at Idaho State
*Feb. 12 – SACRAMENTO STATE
*Feb. 14 – PORTLAND STATE
*Feb. 21 – NORTHERN ARIZONA
*Feb. 26 – at Eastern Washington
*Feb. 28 – at Idaho
*March 2 – MONTANA
March 7–11 – at Big Sky Tournament (Boise, Idaho)
*Denotes Big Sky Conference games.
Bold indicates home games at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Follow the Bears
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
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
