Jan. 16, 2003

Final Stats

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team would probably like to turn the clock back to December. Last month, UNC posted a 5-0 record. So far, January has not been as kind as the Bears dropped their fifth consecutive game of the season, falling 77-74 at Augustana on Thursday night.

Augustana (10-5, 1-3 NCC) won for the first time in conference play this season as UNC (8-7, 0-5 NCC) lost for the fifth straight time, the team's longest losing streak since losing nine in a row during the 1999-2000 season.

Augustana scored the game's first bucket but then the Bears roared out to a 10-3 lead thanks to five points from senior Kevin Knudson and a three-pointer from junior point guard Sean Nolen. The Vikings eventually tied the game at 12 and the momentum swung in their favor as they built a 20-12 lead with 11:06 remaining in the half. The game was tied five more times in the first half and UNC took a two-point lead (35-33) into halftime thanks to seven straight points from Nolen in the final 2:45 of the half.

The second half started out promising for the Bears as they built a small lead, fought off a Viking charge after Augie tied the game at 42 and built an eight-point lead with 13:17 to play in the game. The 8-0 run started with a basket by sophomore Ari Zandman Zeman and included a three-pointer from Heath Orvis and five points from Nolen.

But as the game remained a series of runs, Augustana scored eight straight points to tie the game at 52. But UNC still would not wilt as the game remained a one or two bucket contest for the rest of the game.

The game was tied for the 12th and final time with 1:48 remaining in the game when Nolen drilled a three-pointer to tie the game at 70. But UNC could not get above the hump and Augustana then hit 5-6 free-throws down the stretch to put the game away.

After scoring a career-high 33 points on Saturday, Nolen scored 28 points, a game-high, on Thursday. He was 10-19 from the field, 4-9 from three-point range and 4-4 at the line. Nolen also grabbed three rebounds, five assists and committed only one turnover in 40 total minutes. Sophomore Josh Nigut added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Justin VanMeeteren led Augustana with 25 points and seven rebounds.

"They (Augustana) shot the ball well and we didn't shoot it particulary well," UNC head coach Craig Rasmuson said after the game. "We didn't get the little stop or make the putback or do the little things down the stretch that would have made the difference. We have to find ways to go ahead and just play the game and get ourselves a win."

In a statistic very uncharacteristic of the UNC team this season, Augustana made more free-throws (16) than the Bears attempted (15). Entering the contest, UNC had shot 82 more free-throws than their opponents.

UNC returns to action on Saturday at 4 p.m. when the Bears host Minnesota State, Mankato (11-5, 2-3 NCC). MSU beat Nebraska-Omaha, the team that bested UNC by 32-points last week, 89-83 on Thursday.

Game Notes: Nolen has played a total of 80 minutes in the last two games; he has not come off the court since the Nebraska-Omaha game on Jan. 9 ... Nolen nnows has 48 three-pointers on the season ... Knudson hit his 170th three-pointer of his career, only three away from holding the UNC career mark held by Marvin Jones (172 from 1994-97) ... Knudson played in his 94th career game which is tied for 9th all-time at UNC ... Augustana closed the all-time series mark with UNC to 27-26 and the Vikings have won two straight in the series ... UNC is now 7-3 when leading at halftime this season ... the Bears shot 44.4% from the field compared to 48.3% for Augie.