Bears’ Second Half Push Not Enough at Montana

Saturday, January 3

Missoula, Mont.

4 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

10-5,0-2Big Sky

Montana

8-7,2-0Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Montana

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

1/3/2026 6:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

MISSOULA, Mont. – Northern Colorado's first Big Sky road swing came to a close Saturday afternoon as the Bears dropped an 88-79 decision at Montana inside Dahlberg Arena.

Northern Colorado (10-5, 0-2 Big Sky) battled throughout the second half, scoring 54 points after the break, but an early Montana surge proved too much to overcome. The Grizzlies (8-7, 2-0 Big Sky) built a double-digit cushion in the opening minutes and never relinquished the lead.

Montana opened the game on a 28-11 run over the first 13 minutes, holding UNC scoreless until the 16:53 mark. The Bears responded with steady production down the stretch of the half, trimming the deficit to single digits multiple times, but Montana took a 34-25 advantage into the locker room.

Northern Colorado found its rhythm offensively in the second half, shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and knocking down nine 3-pointers over the final 20 minutes. Brock Wisne led the charge, finishing with a team-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including a career high three triples, while adding eight rebounds and four assists. Ibu Yamazaki followed with 14 points, connecting on three 3-pointers, and Zach Bloch chipped in 13 points with five assists.

Quinn Denker totaled 14 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, while Egan Shields contributed five points and six boards off the bench as UNC continued to chip away. The Bears cut the margin to six with under five minutes remaining, but Montana answered with timely trips to the free-throw line to seal the outcome.

UNC finished the game shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three, while forcing 11 Montana turnovers and holding a 40-37 edge on the glass. Montana's advantage came at the free-throw line, where it converted 35-of-38 attempts.

UP NEXT: Northern Colorado will look to regroup as it returns home for its Big Sky Conference home opener next week at Bank of Colorado Arena, hosting Idaho State on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Weber State on Saturday at 6 p.m. Coverage is available on ESPN+ and PirateRadio935.com.

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