Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Colorado
Wildcats host Bears Thursday in key Big Sky showdown
2/27/2024 4:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State and Northern Colorado meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Dee Events Center. It's Fan Appreciation Week. Get any available seat in any row for just $10.
• It's the final stretch of the Big Sky regular season and a key conference showdown Thursday night as Weber State returns home to host Northern Colorado. The game will feature two of the top teams and two of the top players in the Big Sky.
• The Wildcats and Bears will tipoff at 7 p.m. from the Dee Events Center in Ogden. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Tony Parks and former Weber State head coach Joe Cravens on the call. Weber State radio coverage will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with Steve Klauke and former Weber State standout and Big Sky MVP David Patten calling the action. Live stats available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State sits at 18-10 overall and 9-6 in Big Sky play with three games remaining. The Wildcats are currently fourth in the league standings. WSU saw its six-game losing streak end with an 80-62 loss at Idaho State on Saturday.
Northern Colorado is 17-11 overall and 10-5 in league play, tied for second in the standings.
The Wildcats beat the Bears 82-63 on February 3 in Greeley. Weber State shot 49 percent from the field and held the Bears to 36 percent shooting. WSU also made eight 3-pointers and had eight steals. Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by Dillon Jones with 21.
• Wildcat standout Dillon Jones recorded his 16th double-double of the season and the 54th of his career with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's game. Jones is sixth in the country in double-doubles. He leads the Wildcats in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
• Jones is one of two players in the country currently averaging at least 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He is first in the Big Sky and 23rd in the nation in scoring at 20.4 points per game and also leads the conference in assists at 5.1 per game. He is second in the conference in rebounding at 9.5 per game.
He is also first in the conference and 10th in the nation in minutes played at 36.7. He also ranks third in the league in steals and fourth free throw percentage and field goal percentage.
• Jones is WSU's all-time leader in steals now with 200, and ranks second all-time in assists, third in rebounding, third in free throws made, and fifth in scoring. He is also fifth in Big Sky history in career rebounds. He is the only active player in the country and the only player in Big Sky history with at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals. Since the 1992-93 season, he is one of only four players in the nation to post those numbers in a career.
• In Saturday's game, Weber State senior KJ Cunningham made Wildcat history with his 135th career game played, now the most games played in Weber State history. Cunningham scored nine points on Saturday and is averaging 5.3 points per game with 25 3-pointers this season.
• On Thursday, Weber State will play just its fourth game ever on Leap Day, February 29. WSU is 2-1 all-time on February 29 with wins in 1980 and 1992 and a loss in 2020. All three games were played at the Dee Events Center.
• Weber State leads the Big Sky in scoring defense, scoring margin, and turnover margin. The 'Cats are second in 3-point defense and third in 3-pointer percentage and free throw percentage.
• Northern Colorado is 17-11 overall and tied for second in the Big Sky at 10-5. The Bears lead the Big Sky in scoring offense at 80.3 points. WSU is first in scoring defense at 66.3. The Bears are last in the league in scoring defense.
UNC is also second in the conference and 25th in the nation in field goal percentage, and ranks third in 3-pointers per game and assists.
Northern Colorado is led by junior transfer Saint Thomas who leads the Big Sky in rebounding and is second in scoring. He also has 16 double-doubles this season and is second in the league in free throw percentage.
• Northern Colorado is coached by Steve Smiley who is in his fourth season with the Bears. Smiley was an assistant coach with Eric Duft at Weber State from 2014-16 under head coach Randy Rahe.
• The Wildcats hold a 24-11 all-time series lead over Northern Colorado, including the win earlier this season. In games in Ogden, WSU is 15-2 all-time against the Bears.
• Weber State's final home game will be on Saturday, March 2 in a 2 p.m. tipoff against Northern Arizona. It will be Senior Day as WSU will honor Dillon Jones, Steven Verplancken, and KJ Cunningham prior to the game. The final regular season game will be on Monday, March 4 at Montana State in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. The Big Sky Tournament will be held March 9-13 in Boise, Idaho.
