UNC falls to Utah State 63-50

Bears start conference play on Tuesday

Playing their fifth game in 10 days, the University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball team finally ran out of steam Friday night.

UNC put up a good fight for most of their Friday evening game against Utah State, but the Aggies had more gas left in the tank as Utah State came out on top 63-50.

The Bears (3-2) actually led with 14 minutes left in the game but the Aggies were just able to outlast them after UNC played an absolutely grueling stretch. The Bears went up 36-32 with 14:14 left on Kur Jockuch’s basket, but Utah

State went on an 11-0 run to take control the rest of the way.

“Utah State’s ver y good,” said head coach Steve Smiley after the game. “They’re ver y well coached and they’re ver y tough. They guard at an extremely high level. In the second half stretch we had a tough time getting to the rim, (Utah State) had great shot blocking presence. We had some open looks; we just didn’t knock them down.”

The Aggies made six of their first seven shots from the field to take a 13-6 lead. The Bears defense turned it on from there, however, to hold Utah State to 6-for24 shooting the rest of the first half.

UNC went on an 8-2 run in the middle of the first half to make it a game, jump started by Tre’shon Smoots’ pair of 3-pointers. A 3-pointer by Rodrick McCobb with a minute left in the first half gave the Bears their first lead of the game, but it ultimately didn’t last as the Aggies pulled ahead later in the second half for the win.

Daylen Kountz (13 points), Jockuch (11), and Bodie Hume (10) led the Bears in scoring.

Next up, UNC will return to play on Tuesday at 2 p.m. following the longest break they’ve had to start the season as they open conference play with a home game against Idaho State.

The Bears will host Idaho State again on Wednesday at 2 p.m.