PREVIEW: UNC Returns Home for White Out Against Idaho, Continues Homestand vs. Eastern Washington

Thursday, January 29

Greeley, Colo.

7 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

Idaho

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Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics

1/27/2026 10:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball

UNC Game Notes

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado returns to Greeley this week looking to turn efficiency into results as it opens a two-game Big Sky homestand with a White Out matchup against Idaho on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Eastern Washington on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Coaches vs. Cancer Night at the Bank of Colorado Arena.

LAST TIME OUT: Northern Colorado put together an efficient offensive night but saw a late surge from Northern Arizona swing the outcome in an 81-77 setback Saturday night in Flagstaff. UNC shot 50.0 percent from the field and knocked down 13 three-pointers at a 44.8 percent clip, placing four players in double figures and cutting a two-possession game to one in the final minute before the Lumberjacks closed it out at the free-throw line.

The Bears established rhythm early, shooting 46.9 percent in the opening half and briefly stretching the margin early in the second half behind timely buckets from Ring Nyeri and Zach Bloch. Northern Arizona responded with sustained efficiency after halftime, shooting 63.6 percent over the final 20 minutes to regain control. UNC trimmed a late five-point deficit to two with under a minute remaining, but NAU's free-throw execution sealed the result.

Brock Wisne led Northern Colorado with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding five assists and five rebounds. Bloch connected on five three-pointers to finish with 17 points, while Quinn Denker added 16 points and five assists. UNC finished the night 13-of-29 from three but was countered by Northern Arizona's 59.2 percent overall shooting and 56.3 percent accuracy from beyond the arc.

BIG SKY STANDINGS CONTEXT: Northern Colorado enters the next contest at 1-7 in Big Sky play, with five of its seven conference losses decided by two possessions or fewer. Despite the league record, UNC's 11-10 overall mark and efficiency profile continue to compare favorably within the conference, particularly on the offensive end.

The bottom half of the Big Sky standings remains compressed, with multiple teams separated by a single game and several programs cycling through road-heavy stretches. As second meetings and home stands approach, continued movement remains likely across the league table.

NATIONAL & CONFERENCE RANKINGS SNAPSHOT (Through Jan. 25, 2026):
Northern Colorado remains one of the most efficient offensive teams in the Big Sky and continues to post strong national placements across core metrics:

Scoring Offense: 64th nationally, 1st Big Sky (83.1 ppg)
Assists Per Game: 44th nationally, 1st Big Sky (17.2)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 65th nationally, 1st Big Sky (1.46)
Effective Field Goal Percentage: 22nd nationally, 2nd Big Sky (.570)
Field Goal Percentage: 38th nationally, 2nd Big Sky (48.8%)
Three-Point Percentage: 41st nationally, 2nd Big Sky (37.0%)
Three-Pointers Per Game: 36th nationally, 2nd Big Sky (10.3)
Rebound Margin: 53rd nationally, 2nd Big Sky (+5.5)

Individually, Quinn Denker ranks 15th nationally and first in the Big Sky with 130 total assists and sits ninth nationally in assists per game (6.8). Brock Wisne continues to anchor UNC's interior efficiency, ranking 45th nationally and first in the conference in field-goal percentage (57.8%). Zach Bloch ranks third nationally and first in the Big Sky in three-point percentage (47.3%).

RECORD WATCH: Zach Bloch moved into a tie for fifth all-time in Northern Colorado men's basketball program history for games played with 122, closing in on the program record of 132.

Quinn Denker's 130 assists place him within striking distance of the program's single-season top 10, with the all-time record standing at 202. His continued pace positions him among the most productive primary facilitators in UNC history.

SCOUTING THE VANDALS: Idaho comes to Greeley at 12-8 overall and 4-3 in Big Sky play, averaging 79.9 points per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from three. The Vandals are a balanced offensive group with multiple double-figure scorers, led by guards Biko Johnson (13.6 ppg) and Kolton Mitchell (14.1 ppg), who combine scoring with steady playmaking.

Jackson Rasmussen (14.1 ppg, 53.0 FG%) is their most efficient half-court scorer, while Isaiah Brickner (10.2 ppg) stretches the floor at 48.1 percent from three. Inside, Brody Rowbury provides a physical presence, shooting 60.2 percent and leading the team with 5.9 rebounds per game.

Idaho has outscored opponents by nearly seven points per game and holds teams to 33.9 percent from beyond the arc, but UNC has won eight of the last 10 meetings in the series and is 7-2 against the Vandals at home since 2015, making tempo control, ball security, and perimeter defense key at the Bank of Colorado Arena.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington enters the matchup at 5-15 overall and 3-4 in Big Sky play, coming off a win and playing its best basketball at home, though the Eagles have struggled away from Cheney (1-11 on the road). Offensively, EWU averages 76.1 points per game but has been inconsistent defensively, allowing 81.6 points per contest.

Isaiah Moses drives the offense, ranking among the Big Sky's top scorers at 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor and nearly 37 percent from three. The frontcourt is anchored by Kiree Huie (12.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Alton Hamilton IV (11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), both physical scorers who can finish inside and create second chances. Johnny Radford and Jojo Anderson provide perimeter shooting and secondary scoring, while Straton Rogers adds size and rebounding presence.

Eastern Washington's strength comes when it controls the paint and gets to the free-throw line, but ball security and perimeter defense have been issues. Limiting Moses' touches and forcing the Eagles to score over a set defense will be key, especially in Greeley where UNC has consistently dictated tempo in the series.

Northern Colorado and the Eastern Washington Eagles have met regularly since 2007, with Eastern Washington holding a slight 20-17 edge in the all-time series. UNC has won the last two meetings and four of the last six, including a 95-76 home win on Feb. 20, 2025, which marked the largest margin of victory in the series.

Games in Greeley have historically favored UNC, which owns an 11-8 home record against the Eagles. While the last 10 meetings have tilted toward Eastern Washington (6-4), several matchups have come down to the final possessions, including a one-point neutral-site win for UNC in the 2022 Big Sky Tournament.

UP NEXT: Northern Colorado heads back out on the road for another Big Sky swing, opening the trip Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Weber State Wildcats inside the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, with tip set for 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+ and Pirate Radio. The trip wraps up Saturday, Feb. 7, as UNC visits the Idaho State Bengals at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello, Idaho, for a 4 p.m. MST start, also streaming on ESPN+ with radio coverage on Pirate Radio.

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