Weber State University Athletics
Thursday, January 7
Greeley, Colorado
7:00 p.m.
Weber State University
75
at
84
at Northern Colorado
Streaks End For Weber State As The Wildcats Fall At Northern Colorado, 84-75.
1/8/2010 4:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Northern Colorado guard DEVON BEITZEL has been the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week three times this season, two of them coming in the last two weeks. Looks like he wants to make it three straight. Beitzel, a junior guard, scored 25 points, hitting 5-10 from the three-point arc, leading his Northern Colorado Bears to an 84-75 win Thursday night at Butler-Hancock Fieldhouse in Greeley, Colorado.
The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak in Big Sky Conference regular season road games by the Wildcats, and also snapped a 15-game overall win streak by the 'Cats in Big Sky Conference regular season games as well. WSU's last road loss in Big Sky play came at Northern Arizona in late February of 2008 and their last regular season loss came at home against Montana State back in January of 2009.
“Northern Colorado has an outstanding team and they were the aggressor tonight,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “Coach Boyle has them believing in themselves and has them playing with a purpose and with passion. We had a difficult time locating them, or specifically Beitzel, on the perimeter and that's because they run their offense with precision.”
The Wildcats shot 49 percent from the field, and had the edge in rebounding (30-29), but 18 turnovers and a sparkling effort by the Bears at the free throw line doomed the 'Cats. Northern Colorado was 28-32 (.875) and made 8-21 (.381) from beyond the arc.
Northern Colorado took a 42-34 half time lead with Beitzel scoring 20 of his 25 points in the first 20 minutes. The Bears led 54-47 on two free throws by Yahosh Bonner with 14:24 left in the game. That, however, was the beginning of a 20-5 run by the Bears over the next seven minutes. A lay up from Will Figures at the 7:19 mark made it 74-52. Northern Colorado's last 22 point lead, 78-56, came with 5:34 left on the clock on two free throws from Taylor Montgomery who scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half.
Following the free throws by Montgomery, Weber State's Lindsey Hughey knocked down a long three-pointer which led to a 19-7 run by the Wildcats in the final 5:21 of the game. Darin Mahoney's third career three-pointer with 20 seconds left cut the lead to the final of 84-75.
Damian Lillard, the Big Sky's leading scorer at 19.6 points per game, had 15 to lead the Wildcats. Lillard was just 4-10 from the field but was 6-6 at the free throw line. Kyle Bullinger had 12 points and led the 'Cats with five rebounds. Lindsey Hughey came off the bench to score 12 points and grab four rebounds.
Northern Colorado is now 14-3 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. UNC has the most overall wins and the best winning percentage of any team in the league this season. They play Idaho State Saturday night in Greeley. Weber State falls to 9-7 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. The Wildcats play at Northern Arizona this coming Saturday, January 9 beginning at 6:35 p.m. (MST) inside the spacious Walkup Sky-Dome in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak in Big Sky Conference regular season road games by the Wildcats, and also snapped a 15-game overall win streak by the 'Cats in Big Sky Conference regular season games as well. WSU's last road loss in Big Sky play came at Northern Arizona in late February of 2008 and their last regular season loss came at home against Montana State back in January of 2009.
“Northern Colorado has an outstanding team and they were the aggressor tonight,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “Coach Boyle has them believing in themselves and has them playing with a purpose and with passion. We had a difficult time locating them, or specifically Beitzel, on the perimeter and that's because they run their offense with precision.”
The Wildcats shot 49 percent from the field, and had the edge in rebounding (30-29), but 18 turnovers and a sparkling effort by the Bears at the free throw line doomed the 'Cats. Northern Colorado was 28-32 (.875) and made 8-21 (.381) from beyond the arc.
Northern Colorado took a 42-34 half time lead with Beitzel scoring 20 of his 25 points in the first 20 minutes. The Bears led 54-47 on two free throws by Yahosh Bonner with 14:24 left in the game. That, however, was the beginning of a 20-5 run by the Bears over the next seven minutes. A lay up from Will Figures at the 7:19 mark made it 74-52. Northern Colorado's last 22 point lead, 78-56, came with 5:34 left on the clock on two free throws from Taylor Montgomery who scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half.
Following the free throws by Montgomery, Weber State's Lindsey Hughey knocked down a long three-pointer which led to a 19-7 run by the Wildcats in the final 5:21 of the game. Darin Mahoney's third career three-pointer with 20 seconds left cut the lead to the final of 84-75.
Damian Lillard, the Big Sky's leading scorer at 19.6 points per game, had 15 to lead the Wildcats. Lillard was just 4-10 from the field but was 6-6 at the free throw line. Kyle Bullinger had 12 points and led the 'Cats with five rebounds. Lindsey Hughey came off the bench to score 12 points and grab four rebounds.
Northern Colorado is now 14-3 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. UNC has the most overall wins and the best winning percentage of any team in the league this season. They play Idaho State Saturday night in Greeley. Weber State falls to 9-7 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. The Wildcats play at Northern Arizona this coming Saturday, January 9 beginning at 6:35 p.m. (MST) inside the spacious Walkup Sky-Dome in Flagstaff, Arizona.
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