Northern Colorado Edges Eastern Washington in Close Contest
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Bank of Colorado Arena
Northern Colorado Bears 74, Eastern Washington Eagles 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Eastern Washington Eagles vs Northern Colorado Bears?
Northern Colorado Bears beat Eastern Washington Eagles 74-71 at Bank of Colorado Arena on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Washington Eagles vs Northern Colorado Bears?
Northern Colorado Bears were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -270 (about 73% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Northern Colorado Bears emerged victorious against the Eastern Washington Eagles with a final score of 74-71. This game, held at the Bank of Colorado Arena, showcased the Bears' resilience as they secured their first win in two games, improving their record to 14-10, while the Eagles fell to 5-18.
Northern Colorado entered the game with a home record of 13-10, having struggled recently with a 3-7 record over their last ten games. Their scoring average during this stretch was 79.4 points, but they also allowed an average of 81.2 points per game, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. The Bears had just come off a win against the Idaho Vandals, where they scored 91 points, but their previous games had seen them suffer defeats against teams like the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and Montana State Bobcats.
In contrast, Eastern Washington was struggling significantly, with a record of 5-17 overall and a recent form of 3-7 in their last ten games. They averaged 75.5 points scored and 80.8 points allowed during this period. The Eagles faced a tough loss against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in their last outing, where they were defeated 86-92. Their recent performances have been marked by inconsistency, with their last five games yielding a record of 2-3.
Historically, Northern Colorado has had the upper hand in their recent meetings with Eastern Washington, holding a 2-0 record against them in the current season. The Bears won their previous encounters convincingly, including a 95-76 victory at home and a 67-62 win on the road. This track record likely contributed to their confidence heading into this game.
The injury report did not indicate any significant absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their regular lineups. This was crucial for the Bears, who were looking to build on their previous win and solidify their standing in the league.
Before the game, DraftKings set the odds with Northern Colorado favored by 6.5 points, reflecting their stronger season performance compared to Eastern Washington. The total points line was set at 156.5, indicating expectations for a high-scoring game, consistent with both teams' recent scoring averages.
The conditions in the arena were favorable for basketball, with a lively crowd providing an energetic atmosphere that often boosts home team performance. Fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the game. As the second half progressed, the tension mounted, culminating in a series of free throws that ultimately decided the outcome.
Key moments included crucial free throws from both sides in the closing minutes, with Johnny Radford and Brock Wisne stepping up for Northern Colorado. Radford's free throws brought the score to 70-69, while Wisne's successful shots extended the lead to 74-71, sealing the victory for the Bears.
Overall, this matchup highlighted Northern Colorado's ability to perform under pressure and maintain their winning streak against Eastern Washington, while the Eagles will need to regroup and address their defensive issues as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNCO -6.5 | 156.5 o -112 / u -108 | Eastern Washington Eagles +220 · Northern Colorado Bears -270 |
Leaders
- PointsRing Nyeri23Northern Colorado Bears
- AssistsQuinn Denker8Northern Colorado Bears
- ReboundsBrock Wisne9Northern Colorado Bears
- PointsAlton Hamilton IV17Eastern Washington Eagles
- AssistsIsaiah Moses3Eastern Washington Eagles
- ReboundsAlton Hamilton IV8Eastern Washington Eagles
Recent form
Northern Colorado Bears
Last 10: 3-7Streak W179.4 scored · 81.2 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W91-83vs Idaho VandalsJan 30
- L77-81at Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 25
- L68-73vs Montana State BobcatsJan 20
- L89-93at Sacramento State HornetsJan 18
- L73-76at Portland State VikingsJan 16
- L71-76vs Weber State WildcatsJan 11
- W85-72vs Idaho State BengalsJan 9
- L79-88at Montana GrizzliesJan 3
- L75-89at Montana State BobcatsJan 2
- W86-81at Colorado BuffaloesDec 28
Eastern Washington Eagles
Last 10: 3-7Streak L175.5 scored · 80.8 allowed per game1-5 away
- L86-92at Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 30
- W75-67vs Sacramento State HornetsJan 24
- L61-65vs Portland State VikingsJan 23
- W84-66at Idaho State BengalsJan 17
- L80-91at Weber State WildcatsJan 16
- W66-65vs Montana GrizzliesJan 10
- L64-68vs Montana State BobcatsJan 9
- L81-84at Idaho VandalsJan 3
- L81-109at BYU CougarsDec 23
- L77-101at Utah UtesDec 21
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Eastern Washington Eagles | Northern Colorado Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-58 | 28-70 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 8-18 | 9-35 |
| Three-point % | 44 | 26 |
| Free throws | 9-10 | 9-11 |
| Free throw % | 90 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 22 |
| Assists | 9 | 16 |
| Steals | 0 | 6 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 4 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 38 |
| Fouls | 14 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 51 | 34 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-34Vincent Delano makes layup (Zach Bloch assists)
- 2nd Half37-34Kiree Huie makes layup
- 2nd Half37-37Zach Bloch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half40-37Alton Hamilton IV makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half40-39Ring Nyeri makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-39Isaiah Moses makes layup
- 2nd Half42-42Ring Nyeri makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half42-44Brock Wisne makes layup
- 2nd Half44-44Straton Rogers makes layup (Tyler Powell assists)
- 2nd Half44-47Vincent Delano makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half44-49Egan Shields makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half46-49Alton Hamilton IV makes layup (Jojo Anderson assists)
- 2nd Half46-51Ariik Mawien makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half48-51Jojo Anderson makes layup
- 2nd Half48-53Egan Shields makes layup (Ariik Mawien assists)
- 2nd Half49-53Jojo Anderson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-53Jojo Anderson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-53Johnny Radford makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyler Powell assists)
- 2nd Half53-54Brock Wisne makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Johnny Radford makes 24-foot three point jumper (Alton Hamilton IV assists)
- 2nd Half58-54Alton Hamilton IV makes layup
- 2nd Half58-56Brock Wisne makes 2-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half58-58Quinn Denker makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half59-58Jojo Anderson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-60Ring Nyeri makes layup (Brock Wisne assists)
- 2nd Half59-62Ring Nyeri makes layup (Brock Wisne assists)
- 2nd Half62-62Tyler Powell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Moses assists)
- 2nd Half62-64Ring Nyeri makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half62-67Ring Nyeri makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half64-67Isaiah Moses makes 22-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-70Zach Bloch makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half67-70Johnny Radford makes 31-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Moses assists)
- 2nd Half68-70Johnny Radford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-70Johnny Radford makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-71Brock Wisne makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72Brock Wisne makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-72Isaiah Moses makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-72Isaiah Moses makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-73Brock Wisne makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-74Brock Wisne makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Northern Colorado Bears, below favours Eastern Washington Eagles.
Venue
- Bank of Colorado ArenaGreeley, CO
- Attendance1708
- OfficialsRick Batsell, Jimmy Casas, Casey McClellan
Elsewhere
- Projecting every Big East team's floor and ceiling for 2026-27
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season