Northern Colorado’s men’s basketball team is set to begin a two-game homestand this week, hosting Idaho on Thursday at 7 p.m. for a White Out event and Eastern Washington on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Coaches vs. Cancer Night at the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley.
The Bears are looking to convert strong offensive efficiency into wins after a narrow 81-77 loss to Northern Arizona last Saturday in Flagstaff. In that game, Northern Colorado shot 50 percent from the field and made 13 three-pointers at a rate of nearly 45 percent, with four players reaching double-digit points. Despite cutting the deficit to one possession late, Northern Arizona secured the win with free throws.
Brock Wisne led the Bears with 18 points, five assists, and five rebounds. Zach Bloch hit five three-pointers for 17 points, while Quinn Denker added 16 points and five assists. However, Northern Arizona countered with nearly 60 percent shooting overall and over 56 percent from beyond the arc.
Northern Colorado currently stands at 1-7 in Big Sky Conference play, though five of those losses have been by two possessions or fewer. The team’s overall record is 11-10, and its offensive statistics remain among the best in both the conference and nationally.
The Bears are first in the Big Sky in scoring offense (83.1 points per game), assists per game (17.2), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.46). They also rank high nationally: 64th in scoring offense, 44th in assists per game, and within the top fifty for several other metrics including effective field goal percentage (22nd nationally) and rebound margin (53rd).
Individually, Quinn Denker leads all Big Sky players—and ranks ninth nationally—in assists per game (6.8) with a total of 130 assists this season so far. Brock Wisne tops the conference in field-goal percentage (57.8%), ranking him among national leaders as well. Zach Bloch is third nationally—and first in the Big Sky—in three-point percentage (47.3%).
Bloch has tied for fifth all-time in games played at Northern Colorado men’s basketball with his 122nd appearance; he is approaching the program record of 132 games played.
Idaho enters Thursday’s contest with a record of 12-8 overall and is fourth in conference play at 4-3. The Vandals average nearly 80 points per game behind guards Biko Johnson (13.6 ppg) and Kolton Mitchell (14.1 ppg). Jackson Rasmussen contributes as their most efficient half-court scorer while Isaiah Brickner adds perimeter shooting strength.
Idaho limits opponents to just under thirty-four percent shooting from three-point range but has struggled historically against UNC when playing in Greeley; since 2015 UNC holds a home record of seven wins and two losses against Idaho.
On Saturday, UNC faces Eastern Washington who comes into Greeley at 5-15 overall but has won three out of seven conference games so far this season; however they have only one road victory out of twelve attempts this year.
Eastern Washington averages over seventy-six points offensively but allows more than eighty-one per contest defensively—a key vulnerability highlighted by their struggles away from home courts.
Isaiah Moses leads their scoring effort while Kiree Huie and Alton Hamilton IV provide frontcourt support; Johnny Radford supplies additional perimeter threat.
Historically Eastern Washington leads their series versus UNC by twenty wins to seventeen since regular meetings began in 2007; however UNC has won four out of six recent matchups—including a dominant nineteen-point victory last February on their home court.
After these two home games Northern Colorado will travel again for further conference matchups against Weber State on February fifth followed by Idaho State on February seventh—with both games available via ESPN+ streaming services along with radio coverage.
Fans can stay updated through uncbears.com or follow team updates across X (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
