UNC Bears men's basketball ends Big Sky Conference losing streak

Graduate student guard Quinn Denker's career-high 35 points lead Bears to 91-83 win over Idaho

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:07pm

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The UNC Bears men's basketball team ended their Big Sky Conference losing streak with a 91-83 victory over the Idaho Vandals on Thursday night. Graduate student guard Quinn Denker had a career-high 35 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds to lead the Bears to the win at Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears had lost five straight games, all by one possession, before breaking through against the Vandals.

Why it matters

The Bears had been struggling in Big Sky Conference play, losing five straight close games. This win helps them get back on track and ends their longest losing streak in a few years. Denker's standout performance was crucial in getting the team back in the win column.

The details

Denker shot 10-of-17 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and was 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Forward-center Brock Wisne added 16 points and 6 rebounds for the Bears. Sophomore forward Nyeri Ring had two second-half dunks off alley-oop passes from Denker that gave the team and crowd a boost. Idaho was led by Jackson Rasmussen's 26 points, while Kolton Mitchell scored 19 and Brody Rowbury had 10 points before being ejected.

  • The game was played on Thursday, January 30, 2026 at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley.

The players

Quinn Denker

A graduate student guard for the UNC Bears who had a career-high 35 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds in the win over Idaho.

Brock Wisne

A forward-center for the UNC Bears who scored 16 points and had 6 rebounds in the victory.

Nyeri Ring

A sophomore forward for the UNC Bears who had two second-half dunks that energized the team and crowd.

Jackson Rasmussen

The leading scorer for Idaho with 26 points in the loss.

Kolton Mitchell

An Idaho player who scored 19 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“It's a real thing," Denker said of flow state. "I think when you play as good of an opponent as Idaho, you've got to raise your level. When you go into a game completely prepared, and then you just do your best and let God handle the rest and free flow. Sometimes a performance like that will just happen.”

— Quinn Denker, UNC Bears guard (fortmorgantimes.com)

“Instead of going out there to win and just having a little bit of a swagger almost, we just really tried to make that a focus. You see that with Ring dunking. Getting to the free throw line, which we haven't been doing in the past. I think when we have that type of energy, and it's just fun to play, that's when we're at our best.”

— Brock Wisne, UNC Bears forward-center (fortmorgantimes.com)

What’s next

The Bears will look to build on this win and continue their momentum in the Big Sky Conference. Their next game is scheduled for Saturday, February 1st against Montana State.

The takeaway

Denker's career performance and the team's renewed energy and focus helped the Bears end their frustrating losing streak. This win could be a turning point for the team as they aim to climb back up the Big Sky standings and secure a postseason berth.