Feb. 15, 2003

Final Stats

GREELEY, Colo. - The University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team came through with their second conference victory of the season, thumping Augustana 83-61 on Saturday at Butler-Hancock Hall. The Bears enacted revenge from a 77-74 loss to the Vikings in Sioux Falls earlier this season.

The win snapped a five-game losing streak for UNC (10-12, 2-10 NCC) and the 61 points allowed to Augustana (10-14, 1-12 NCC) was the fewest the Bears had allowed a NCC opponent to score this season.

The game was close for the first five minutes before an 11-4 UNC run opened up a 12 point lead with 11:24 remaining in the first half. The Bears allowed Augie to creep back into the game, as the Vikings tied the game at 37 with 2:27 in the half thanks to a bucket from Chris Harris. But Sean Nolen scored the last five points of the half for the Bears and UNC went to the lockerroom with a 44-38 lead. The lead was a good sign for the Bears, as the team had won only once this season when trailing at the half (1-8).

But the second half was a different story as UNC used a 7-2 run out of halftime and then blew the game wide open with a 18-2 run that put them up 69-47 with 6:49 to play in the game. The final 10 minutes was dominated by the Bears, as they forced poor Augustana shots and got several highlight reel plays including alley-oop dunks by Vincent Jackson and James Randle.

Nolen led all scorers with 20 points on 7-10 shooting. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Jackson added 13 points and six rebounds, Kevin Knudson had 12 and Tim Graham scored 10.

Sophomore Ari Zandman Zeman, making his second career start, posted seven points and a career-high nine rebounds in 30 minutes of playing time.

Augie was led by 17 points by Justin VanMeeteren who was 7-15 from the field.

The win vaulted the Bears out of a last-place NCC tie with Augustana and into sole possession of eighth place.

The Bears return to action next Thursday when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to battle the Huskies at 7 p.m. mountain time.

Game Notes: UNC now leads the all-time series 28-25 ... after shooting only 38.7% from the field on Thursday, the Bears responded with a 52.8% effort ... Nolen scored in double figures for the 25th time in 27 games and hit a three-pointer for the 29th time in 32 games ... UNC continues to have success early in the day, as they extended their record to 5-1 in games that tip-off before 5 p.m. ... the Bears won for the first time in February and for only the second time in 2003.