Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Colorado
Harris and Valeika Lead WSU Past Bears
2/9/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah -- A simple lead for a rather simple game. DEZMON HARRIS scored 21 points, hitting 5-5 from the three-point arc, and ARTURAS VALEIKA registered his eighth "double/double" of the season with 16 points and tying his WSU career high with 14 rebounds, leading the Wildcats to a 70-54 victory over the University of Northern Colorado Bears Saturday night in the Dee Events Center. The win gave the Wildcats a season split with the Bears and avenged a 55-52 loss in Greeley back on January 5, 2008.
Both teams employed some sticky defense which resulted in some rather poor shooting from the field by both teams. WSU held the Bears to just 20-59 (.339) from the field, but were only 18-45 (.400) themselves. The salvation came at the free throw line where the Wildcats hit 27-33 (.818). Northern Colorado was just 8-15.
Northern Colorado took an early 15-9 lead with 10:33 left in the first half only to see the Wildcats put together an 19-11 scoring run to take a 28-26 lead at the break despite hitting just 7-21 shots from the field.
Both teams battled back and forth through the first seven minutes of the second half with the Wildcats clinging to a 42-39 lead with 13:09 remaining.
KELLEN McCOY then ignited a Wildcat scoring rally with a three-pointer at the 12:01 mark which was followed by an old fashion three-point play by ARTURAS VALEIKA just over a minute later. DEZMON HARRIS then made good on two free throws with 9:30 left to complete the 8-0 scoring run and giving the ?Cats an 11 point lead.
The two team trade three-pointers followed by a lay up by UNC's TERRY ANDERSON which cut WSU's lead to 53-44 at the 8:04 mark.
The Wildcats then put the game to rest with a 7-1 scoring run over the next three minutes to take a 62-45 lead which was capped by two free throws and a lay up by JUAN PABLO SILVEIRA and the ?Cats were never threatened the rest of the way.
Northern Colorado's only bright spot was JABRIL BANKS who scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He was the only double figure scorer for the Bears.
Weber State moves to 12-10 overall and 7-3 in Big Sky Conference play. The Wildcats are now alone in second place, one game behind Portland State. The Wildcats meet the Vikings in a showdown next Saturday, February 16 in Portland. But before that, the Wildcats face the Eastern Washington Eagles in a Valentine Day's match up on Thursday, February 14 in Cheney, Washington. Both of those games next week tip off at 7:05 (PST), 8:05 (MST).
