Dec. 28, 2002

Final Stats

PUEBLO, Colo. - The University of Northern Colorado men's basketball capped a perfect month of December by winning their eighth straight game of the season in a 96-62 rout of NAIA foe Hope International on the final night of the Holiday Inn/Chuck Stephens Classic at the University of Southern Colorado.

UNC (8-2) once again won with great shooting, knocking down 53.3% of their field goal attempts, marking the seventh consecutive game the Bears have knocked down 50% or more of their shots in a game. The Bears also knocked down eight trifectas, including 5-6 from junior point guard Sean Nolen on his way to a game-high 21 points.

The Bears wasted no time jumping all-over the mismatched and winless Hope International (0-9) squad as Tim Graham and Kevin Knudson hit buckets and Nolen drained a three-pointer in the game's first 1:30 forcing a HIU timeout. The Royals scored six quick points but UNC used a 19-0 run over the next six and a half minutes to build an insurmountable 26-6 lead midway through the game's first 20 minutes.

The Bears led by as many as 24 points in the first half after Nolen hit a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining, and UNC went into the lockeroom with a 51-29 lead.

A 12-0 spurt for UNC in the second half opened up a 36-point lead, its largest of the night which it equalled on two ocassions.

Nolen shot 8-9 from the field and 5-6 from three-point range for his 21 points. He also dished out six assists. James Randle tied a career-high with 11 points on 3-6 shooting and Parish Brockman added 12. Knudson, coming off a career-high 23 points a night earlier, scored seven points but still managed to make the All-Tournament team along with Nolen.

Hope International placed two players in double figures, Jonathan Stoa and Keith Rickard, who scored 10 points apiece.

The Bears forced the Royals into an opponent season-high of 25 turnovers, which UNC converted into 31 points.

The Bears take their eight-game winning streak, their longest since the 1988-89 season when they won 10 games, into North Central Conference play which begins on Thursday night when they host St. Cloud State at 7:30 p.m.

2002 Holiday Inn/Chuck Stephens Classic All-Tournament Team
Chad France, Southern Colorado (MVP)
Jonathan Stoa, Hope International
Sean Nolen, Northern Colorado
Kevin Knudson, Northern Colorado
Lawrence McGhee, Judson College
Brian Vecchio, Southern Colorado