Northern Colorado men’s basketball improved its record to 8-1 after a close win over Omaha, finishing 75-70 at Baxter Arena on Wednesday night. This marks the team’s second-best start in its Division I history and gives Northern Colorado an early victory in the Big Sky–Summit League Challenge.
The Bears relied on their experienced players during key moments late in the game. Graduate guard Quinn Denker led with 22 points, eight assists, and three steals over 36 minutes. “Denker again set the tone, finishing with 22 points, eight assists, and three steals in 36 minutes to anchor the offense,” according to team sources.
The first half was highly competitive with eight ties and 15 lead changes before Northern Colorado went into halftime ahead by three points. Omaha’s Ja’Sean Glover and Lance Waddles hit early three-pointers but were answered by Northern Colorado’s balanced attack, including three-point shots from Zach Bloch, Brock Wisne, and Ibu Yamazaki.
Omaha started strong after halftime with an 8-2 run. However, Brock Wisne helped steady Northern Colorado’s play, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Wisne contributed both inside scoring and perimeter shooting throughout multiple pushes from Omaha.
Ibu Yamazaki added 16 points for Northern Colorado, making three shots from beyond the arc while controlling play in the mid-range area.
Defensively, Northern Colorado limited Omaha late in the game by forcing them into a stretch where they made only two of six field goals. A key moment came when Denker made a steal that resulted in Vincent Delano scoring on a fast break. Zach Bloch added six rebounds and two assists while helping manage possessions during a tight second half.
Omaha remained competitive thanks to Glover’s game-high 26 points and Waddles’ 19 points. The Mavericks closed the gap several times but were repeatedly held off by timely plays from Denker and Wisne as well as important rebounding down the stretch.
Northern Colorado shot 43 percent overall from the floor and made ten three-pointers while turning over the ball just nine times. The Bears also had a slight edge in rebounding (37-33) and generated nine points off turnovers.
Next up for Northern Colorado is another Big Sky–Summit League Challenge matchup as they host South Dakota on Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Fans can stay updated through uncbears.com or via social media channels: X (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
