Dec. 17, 2002

Final Stats

GUNNISON, Colo. - The backcourt duo of senior Kevin Knudson and junior Sean Nolen combined for 10 three-pointers as the University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team rolled to its sixth consecutive victory in an 82-48 victory over Western State on Tuesday.

The sixth consecutive wins is the longest winning streak for UNC (6-2) since they won seven games during the 1997-98 season.

The Bears built a 5-0 lead over Western (0-8) early and were able to extend that advantage to 10 points midway through the first half. Then a 21-1 run sparked by back-to-back three pointers from Nolen and a pair of three's from Knudson built the Bears a 44-18 lead near the close of the half. UNC would lead 46-22 at the break.

The second half saw more of the same for UNC, as the Bears built as big as a 42 point lead when freshman Vincent Jackson, fresh off a season with the UNC football team, knocked down his first trifecta of the year in his first game action.

Jackson would score 10 points on 3-3 shooting in only eight minutes of action.

Knudson led all scorers with 22 points, which matched his career-high that he set in 2000 at Nebraska-Omaha. He was 7-10 from the field and 6-8 from three-point range, while adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Nolen added 20 points on 4-7 shooting from long range and dished out six assists.

Sophomore center Josh Nigut made it four UNC players in double figures by adding 10 points.

As a team, the Bears shot 60% for the game, their fifth straight contest they have shot 50% or better from the field. Western was limited to only 29.3% from the field.

UNC will have a week and a half off before traveling to the Holiday Inn/Chuck Stephens Classic at the University of Southern Colorado on Dec. 27-28. The Bears will square off with Judson College and Hope International.

Game Notes: With his six three-pointers, Knudson moved up to third place on the UNC all-time three-pointers made list with 153 trifectas; he is only 20 away from holding the UNC career record ... Knudson scored in double figures for the eighth time in as many games this season.