Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Colorado
Wildcats Stay PURRfect In Big Sky Road Play With An 82-76 Win At Northern Colorado.
2/5/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Weber State's "Little Big Man" was all of that, Thursday night in Greeley, Colorado. KELLEN McCOY (5-6, 180 Sr. Guard) scored a career high 25 points, and added a team high eight rebounds, leading the Wildcats to an 82-76 win over Northern Colorado. It was Weber State's sixth straight win, overall, and kept the ?Cats "purrfect" in Big Sky Conference road games at 6-0.
"It was a gritty win," said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. "I saw a lot of tired legs out there. This is the time of the season where the veterans know you have to push yourself and obviously Kellen was proof of that tonight."
McCoy's line of 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in 31 minutes was enough to overcome a poor night at the free throw line where the Wildcats were just 13-24 (.542). WSU came into the game shooting 74 percent for the season and more than 77 percent in Big Sky play.
It was bad enough for DAMIAN LILLARD (6-2, 180 Fr. Guard) to go 5-8. Lillard came into the game having made 31 straight. He made his first attempt then missed on his second. His streak came to an end against the team in which it started. Lillard missed his first free throw attempt at home vs. Northern Colorado on Jan. 3 the proceeded to make the next 32.
The games had several scoring runs by both teams. WSU jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead, only to see the Bears rally back and go up 26-18 with 7:31 left in the first half. McCoy's three-pointer with 7:07 remaining sparked a 13-5 run over the next three minutes.
UNC came back to take a 39-34 lead on a basket by CHRIS KABA with 2:13 left in the first half, but that would be it for the Bears as the Wildcats closed out the stanza with a 6-0 scoring run to take a 40-39 lead into the locker room.
The two teams went toe-to-toe in the first seven minutes of the second half. Weber State took a 53-50 lead on a baseline slam dunk by DAVIIN DAVIS WITH 13:29 on the clock.
The Bears found their legs and over the next four minutes put together a 13-3 scoring run capped by a three-pointer from an unlikely source in JABRIL BANKS (6-7, 230 Sr. Center).
That hoop caught WSU's attention. Lillard and KYLE BULLINGER (6-6, 210 RsFr. Forward) then combined for eight points, pulling the Wildcats to within one at 66-65 with 5:21 left, then took a three-point lead on back-to-back lay ups by Kellen McCoy to go up 69-66.
Northern Colorado's final gasp came on their next two possessions on baskets by ROBERT PALACIO and Jabril Banks giving the Bears a 70-69 advantage with 3:29 remaining.
Kellen McCoy then began the final 11-6 run with a three-pointer at 3:11 followed by a free throw from Damian Lillard giving the ?Cats a three-point cushion (73-70) at the 2:12 mark.
Jabril Banks drew a foul from TREVOR MORRIS, his 5th, with 1:51 left. Banks made both free throws making a one-point game.
McCoy answered with another drive to the basket at 1:33 and following a missed three-pointer by DEVON BEITZEL, McCoy stole the ball from Banks, who had rebounded the ball, and found a streaking Daviin Davis for the lay up. Davis was fouled by JOHN PENA and he converted the free throw giving the Wildcats a 78-72 lead.
Damian Lillard made it a seven-point margin on two free throws with 42 seconds left but UNC guard WILL FIGURES made the Wildcats sweat hitting a three ball with 27 seconds left making it 80-76.
Kellen McCoy was quickly fouled on the inbounds play. He made the first shot and missed the second. Beitzel came down and missed a three-pointer which was rebounded by DARIN MAHONEY. He missed the front end of the bonus and the Bears scrambled to the other end where Will Figures and NEAL KINGMAN each missed three-point shot attempts in the final 15 seconds. The last one was rebounded by McCoy. He was fouled and made one of two free throws with two seconds left to seal the deal.
Jabril Banks led Northern Colorado (9-15 overall / 5-6 Big Sky) with 19 points and eight rebounds. Devon Beitzel had 15, Will Figures and Mike Proctor each added 10. The Bears shot just 24-55 (.436) from the field but were 23-26 (.885) from the free throw line. Both teams had 33 rebounds.
Kyle Bullinger complimented McCoy with 17 points and five rebounds. Damian Lillard had 15 for the Wildcats who now move to 15-8 overall and 9-1 in Big Sky Conference play.
The Wildcats now get a full week's rest. They return to action with a pair of home games on Thursday, February 12 vs. Eastern Washington and a Saturday, February 14 game vs. Portland State (you gotta love that one). Both games tip at 7:05 p.m. (MST).
