Steve Smiley said he hasn’t slept much in the last month, and the UNC Bears men’s basketball coach didn’t expect to get much rest Monday night.
UNC, a team that won a share of the Big Sky Conference regular-season title last year, dropped to 1-6 in the conference after a 73-68 loss to Montana State at Bank of Colorado Arena.
The loss was the eighth in the last 10 games for the Bears, who started 9-1 into early December. The only two wins in this current tough stretch are over the University of Colorado in Boulder and against Big Sky opponent Idaho State.
UNC’s win over CU last month was its first against the Buffs in 90 years. Pictured with a loss earlier in the month on the road to nationally ranked Texas Tech, and things looked good for UNC. The Bears outrebounded Texas Tech (34-24) in an 11-point loss.
UNC, which also played for the Big Sky Conference Tournament title last season, has since struggled to find its way. The team is not rebounding well now, Smiley said, and they wouldn’t give Texas Tech the same game.
Northern Colorado Bears guard Zach Bloch (8) puts up a 3-pointer during a college basketball game against the Denver Pioneers at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Trying to remain positive, but with acceptance and a sense of reality, the head coach and players Brock Wisne and Zach Bloch spoke about the season after another loss.
“We need to get back to our detail,” Bloch said, adding he thought the Bears played hard against Montana State. “We need to get back to sharing the ball, getting the right shots. There’s another level we can get to. Montana State’s a really good team. Like Brock said, they don’t beat themselves. We need to figure out how to not beat ourselves.”
The game against Montana State was UNC’s third in five days. The opening tip-off came a little more than 24 hours after UNC arrived home from a two-game road trip. The Bears had to work hard for their offense against Montana State. Fatigue was a factor, but the team’s struggles, especially on the offensive end, aren’t a one-game problem.
Wisne, who led UNC in scoring with 18 points, said the offense’s problems stem from execution — not running the plays the right way. He also said the Bears are searching for connection and flow to their offense. Bloch scored 12 points on 4 of 13 shooting from the field. He was critical of himself that more of his shots didn’t fall. Guard Vincent Delano came off the bench for 13 points.
“I think we have a mature group of guys, and we know that’s the truth,” Wisne said. “We’re trying to find ways to solve it.”
UNC’s next game is Saturday night at Northern Arizona (0-7 Big Sky).
Montana State coach Matt Logie said he doesn’t see any change in the Bears from last year when they had three players on the postseason Big Sky Conference first team: Jaron Rillie, Langston Reynolds and Isaiah Hawthorne. Logie said the Big Sky is a tough conference.
“It’s very unforgiving,” Logie said. “Every game that they’ve been in, they’ve had a chance to win. There’s only going to be one winner and one loser, but it doesn’t always speak to the quality of the team. We’ve got a ton of respect for Northern Colorado and coach Smiley, and it was a hard-fought battle like it’s been every other time.”
Bloch, Wisne and guard Quinn Denker returned to the team this year as leaders and experienced players. Bloch and Wisne started last year with Rillie, Reynolds and Hawthorne. Denker played a ton of minutes last year in his first in the program as a transfer.
Northern Colorado guard Quinn Denker (35) dribbles the ball down the court against Colorado College guard TJ Satcher (3) during a college basketball game at the Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)In the transfer portal era, with players coming and going from programs, it was a huge luxury for UNC to have those three back for a final season. The program had reason for optimism, and the Bears were picked third in conference preseason polls.
Denker, Wisne and Bloch are all averaging in double figures in scoring. Denker, the leading scorer at close to 18 points a game, had an off night shooting against the Bobcats. He was 4 of 15 from the field. He pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out seven assists. Denker ranked 10th nationally in Division I in assists (6.9) according to NCAA stats through Sunday.
The NCAA stats also showed UNC at 30th nationally in field goal percentage (49.07%) and 23rd in effective field goal percentage (57.4%). Effective field goal percentage prioritizes 3-point field goals.
Smiley pointed to these statistical categories to show UNC’s offensive strength. He said turnovers are hurting the Bears. UNC had eight in the first half against Montana State and 12 total. The Bobcats had seven.
“Dribbling the ball off our foot, that happened three times in the first half,” Smiley said. “Got a rebound, threw the ball (away). I know how to coach. I don’t know how to coach that.”
Montana State sealed its season sweep of the Bears with the win. UNC beat the Bobcats three times last year including a 72-45 victory in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.UNC’s loss Monday was its fourth straight in a close game. The Bears lost the three previous games by a total of 12 points — to Weber State, Portland State and Sacramento State.
After the Sacramento State game, Smiley said the coaching staff found some problem areas. In addition to rebounding, the Bears foul too much and don’t get to the free throw line. They’re last in both categories, he said. Second-half team defense has also lagged. Smiley said the Bears have had games where they’ve held an opponent in the 20s in the first half, only to falter and allow a greater offensive output in the second half.
“I can’t wrap my head around that,” Smiley said. “Again, it’s on me. It’s always on the coach.”
With the sixth conference loss Monday, Smiley said the regular-season title is gone. Out of reach for the Bears.
UNC led Sacramento State by as many as 18 points in the second half Saturday night before losing in overtime. The Bears were up by 13 points with about nine minutes to play in regulation, and had a 9-point lead with just under 6 minutes to go.
“I take the blame on it,” Smiley said Monday night. “You have to win that game, and we didn’t.”
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