PREVIEW: UNC Returns Home to Face Montana State in Big Sky Clash

Monday, January 19

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

Montana State

1/18/2026 1:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

UNC Game Notes

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado returns to action Monday night at 6 p.m. MST for a pivotal Big Sky matchup as the Bears welcome Montana State to Bank of Colorado Arena. The game will air on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on Pirate Radio, as UNC looks to protect home court against one of the league's top contenders while continuing to build momentum in conference play.

LAST WEEK RECAP: Northern Colorado hit the road for a demanding Big Sky swing, pushing both contests to the final possessions before suffering narrow setbacks at Portland State (76-73) and Sacramento State (93-89, OT).

Thursday night at Portland State, the Bears led at halftime and battled to the final horn in a 76-73 decision at Viking Pavilion. Northern Colorado went into the break up 33-28 after knocking down seven first-half three-pointers and holding the Vikings to 1-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Portland State gained control in the second half by winning the paint (38-24) and the rebounding battle (38-23), including 11 offensive boards, but UNC remained within one possession throughout the closing minutes. Quinn Denker finished with 18 points and six assists, Brock Wisne added 16 points, and Zach Bloch came up with a late steal and trip to the free-throw line to pull the Bears within one in the final seconds before a halfcourt attempt at the buzzer came up short.

Saturday night at Sacramento State saw Northern Colorado lead for nearly 39 minutes and build an 18-point second-half advantage before the Hornets forced overtime and edged the Bears, 93-89, at Hornet Pavilion. UNC shot 66.7 percent in the first half and carried a 43-31 lead into halftime before stretching the margin to 62-44 early in the second half.

Sacramento State surged back behind perimeter shooting and trips to the free-throw line, tying the game late and forcing overtime. Denker delivered a career performance with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and four steals, including late free throws that briefly restored the lead in regulation. Northern Colorado shot 51.5 percent from the field and scored 52 points in the paint, but Sacramento State's 34 free-throw attempts and 15 second-chance points proved decisive in the extra period.

BIG SKY STANDINGS CONTEXT: Northern Colorado enters the weekend at 1-5 in Big Sky play, with three of its five conference losses coming by one possession or in overtime. The Bears remain part of a crowded middle tier in the standings, where significant movement remains possible as league play continues. UNC's 11-8 overall record continues to rank among the stronger nonconference résumés in the conference.

NATIONAL & CONFERENCE RANKINGS SNAPSHOT (Through Jan. 17, 2026):
Northern Colorado continues to profile as one of the most efficient offensive teams in the Big Sky and nationally, ranking first in the conference in multiple core categories while maintaining strong national placement across the board.

Scoring Offense: 54th nationally, 1st Big Sky (84.3 ppg)
Effective Field Goal Percentage: 23rd nationally, 1st Big Sky (.574)
Field Goal Percentage: 29th nationally, 1st Big Sky (49.1%)
Three-Point Percentage: 48th nationally, 1st Big Sky (36.7%)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 55th nationally, 1st Big Sky (1.50)
Assists Per Game: 36th nationally, 1st Big Sky (17.5)
Three-Pointers Per Game: 35th nationally, 2nd Big Sky (10.3)
Three-Point Percentage Defense: 15th nationally, 2nd Big Sky (28.8%)
Rebound Margin: 89th nationally, 3rd Big Sky (+4.4)
Scoring Margin: 134th nationally, 5th Big Sky (+6.2)

Individually, Quinn Denker ranks 10th nationally and 1st in the Big Sky in assists per game (6.9), while Zach Bloch ranks 5th nationally and 1st in the conference in three-point percentage (46.9%). Brock Wisne ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in field-goal percentage (56.5%), reinforcing UNC's efficiency at all three levels.

Together, these metrics underscore Northern Colorado's identity as a high-efficiency, ball-movement-driven offense paired with elite perimeter defense and consistent rebounding balance

SCOUTING THE MONTANA STATE BOBCATS: Montana State enters the matchup at 10-8 overall and 4-1 in Big Sky play, ranking among the league's most balanced teams on both ends of the floor. The Bobcats average 79.1 points per game while holding opponents to 70.3, owning the second-best scoring margin in the conference (+8.8).

Montana State is built around a deep, multi-guard lineup that spaces the floor effectively, shooting 36.0 percent from three and knocking down nearly 10 triples per game. The Bobcats are efficient without playing fast, ranking among the league's best in field-goal percentage (.474) and defensive discipline.

Patrick McMahon (14.4 PPG) leads the team as a steady primary option, while Jed Miller (13.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG) provides size, rebounding, and elite floor spacing at 40.4 percent from three. Davian Brown (12.6 PPG) and Christian King (11.9 PPG) give Montana State multiple perimeter creators capable of scoring in isolation or off ball movement.

Inside, Chris Hodges (6.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG) anchors the paint defensively, helping the Bobcats rank among the league's best in defensive efficiency and scoring margin.

SERIES HISTORY:
Overall Series: Montana State leads 52-30
First Meeting: 1923-24
Most Recent Meeting: Jan. 1, 2026 – Montana State 89, Northern Colorado 75

UP NEXT: Northern Colorado heads back on the road to continue Big Sky play on Saturday, Jan. 24, traveling to Northern Arizona for a matchup inside Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MST, with the game airing on ESPN+ and Pirate Radio.

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).