Nov. 23, 2002

Final Stats

GOLDEN, Colo. - A trip to Golden was not very refreshing for the University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team, as the Bears fell for the second straight night at the Colorado Mines Classic, dropping a 71-66 game to Regis.

The first-half was a tight affair as each team could only manage a two or three point lead for most of the half and the game went into the lockeroom tied for the ninth time in the half after Regis' DeMel Tarver knocked down a free-throw.

Senior guard Kevin Knudson would hit a jumper and knock down a three-pointer to open the second half as UNC seemed to have some momentum as they opened up a eight-point lead at 44-36 with 16:24 remaining in the game. But an 8-2 Regis run trimmed the lead to only two and the Rangers (1-1) tied the game at 52 with 9:45 remaining thanks to two free-throws from Zach Gehlhaus.

After Knudson made a lay-up with 6:31 remaining and Regis got a layup from Torrance Toomer, the Bears would not lead again. Regis scored eight unanswered points to extend its lead to eight and never looked back.

UNC shot 33.3% for the first half but improved to 41.2% for the game. Regis blistered the nets on the evening, shooting at a 50% clip, including an unbelievable 69.2% (18-26) in the second half.

Knudson led the way for UNC with 17 points on 6-12 shooting and 3-8 from three-point range. Sophomore Josh Nigut was the only other Bear to reach double digits, as he had 10 points and grabbed nine caroms.

Nate Wilson led Regis with 14 points on 7-10 shooting.

"We need to do a better job defensively and do a better job of taking care of the ball," Head Coach Craig Rasmuson said after the game. "This weekend was a rude awakening for us."

UNC will return to the friendly confines of Butler-Hancock Hall to host Adams State on Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. The Bears bring a seven-game winning streak into that matchup.