Northern Colorado Bears Defeat Idaho Vandals 91-83
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Bank of Colorado Arena
Northern Colorado Bears 91, Idaho Vandals 83, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Idaho Vandals vs Northern Colorado Bears?
Northern Colorado Bears beat Idaho Vandals 91-83 at Bank of Colorado Arena on January 29, 2026.
Who was favored in Idaho Vandals vs Northern Colorado Bears?
Northern Colorado Bears were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -162 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Northern Colorado Bears triumphed over the Idaho Vandals with a final score of 91-83 at the Bank of Colorado Arena. This victory marks a significant moment for the Bears, who have struggled recently, having lost their last five games prior to this encounter. The Bears now hold a home record of 13-10, while the Vandals fall to 12-10 overall.
The Bears entered this game with a record of 12-10, but their recent form had been concerning, as they had only managed to secure two wins in their last ten games, resulting in a record of 2-8 over that span. Their scoring average during this stretch was 78.2 points per game, while they allowed an average of 81.5 points, indicating a defensive vulnerability that the Vandals aimed to exploit. In contrast, the Vandals, with a record of 12-9, had a more favorable recent form, going 6-4 in their last ten games and averaging 79.9 points scored against 73.6 points allowed.
At home, the Bears had a record of 4-6, while the Vandals had performed better on the road, with a 4-5 record away from home. The last five games for the Bears showed a troubling trend, as they averaged only 75.6 points scored and allowed 79.8 points, highlighting their struggles both offensively and defensively.
In terms of their previous meetings, the Bears and Vandals had split their two matchups in the previous season, with the Bears winning 92-74 at home and losing 76-77 away. This history added an intriguing layer to the matchup, as both teams were aware of the stakes involved.
Injury updates were not specified in the block, so both teams appeared to field their full rosters. The betting lines provided by DraftKings indicated that the Bears were favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 155.5. The odds for the over and under were both at -110. The moneyline showed the Bears at -162, while the Vandals were at +136, reflecting the Bears' status as the favorites.
The conditions at the Bank of Colorado Arena were optimal for a competitive game, with a crowd eager to see if the Bears could break their losing streak. As the game unfolded, fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads and showcasing their offensive capabilities.
Key moments in the game included critical free throws and three-point shots that shifted momentum. Notably, Quinn Denker made crucial free throws for the Vandals, while Zach Bloch and Ibu Yamazaki contributed significantly to the Bears' scoring in the closing moments. The game concluded with the Bears solidifying their lead through free throws, ultimately sealing the victory.
As the Bears look to build on this win, their scoring average will likely need to improve, and they will need to address their defensive lapses. Meanwhile, the Vandals will aim to bounce back from this defeat as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNCO -2.5 | 155.5 o -110 / u -110 | Idaho Vandals +136 · Northern Colorado Bears -162 |
Leaders
- PointsQuinn Denker35Northern Colorado Bears
- AssistsQuinn Denker10Northern Colorado Bears
- ReboundsRing Nyeri10Northern Colorado Bears
- PointsJackson Rasmussen29Idaho Vandals
- AssistsKolton Mitchell3Idaho Vandals
- ReboundsSeth Joba7Idaho Vandals
Recent form
Northern Colorado Bears
Last 10: 2-8Streak L578.2 scored · 81.5 allowed per game1-3 at home
- 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
- L79-86vs Denver PioneersDec 20
Idaho Vandals
Last 10: 6-4Streak L179.9 scored · 73.6 allowed per game2-2 away
- L66-69vs Portland State VikingsJan 24
- W86-76vs Sacramento State HornetsJan 23
- W75-67at Weber State WildcatsJan 18
- L68-76at Idaho State BengalsJan 16
- W92-89vs Montana State BobcatsJan 10
- L73-79vs Montana GrizzliesJan 9
- W84-81vs Eastern Washington EaglesJan 3
- L63-64at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersDec 23
- W83-80at Cal Poly MustangsDec 22
- W109-55vs Evergreen State GeoducksDec 14
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 | Idaho Vandals | Northern Colorado Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-64 | 30-57 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 53 |
| Three-pointers | 11-32 | 8-17 |
| Three-point % | 34 | 47 |
| Free throws | 24-28 | 23-33 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 33 |
| Assists | 9 | 16 |
| Steals | 1 | 2 |
| Blocks | 2 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 44 |
| Fouls | 24 | 23 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 28 | 54 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half55-58Ring Nyeri makes 1-foot dunk (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half55-59Ring Nyeri makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-59Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-62Quinn Denker makes 24-foot three point jumper (Egan Shields assists)
- 2nd Half57-62Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-62Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-65Quinn Denker makes 22-foot three point jumper (Ariik Mawien assists)
- 2nd Half60-65Seth Joba makes layup
- 2nd Half60-67Vincent Delano makes layup
- 2nd Half63-67Biko Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kolton Mitchell assists)
- 2nd Half63-70Quinn Denker makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ariik Mawien assists)
- 2nd Half63-71Ariik Mawien makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-71Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-71Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-73Brock Wisne makes layup
- 2nd Half66-73Seth Joba makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-73Seth Joba makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-76Zach Bloch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half67-78Brock Wisne makes layup (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half68-78Biko Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-78Biko Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-79Ariik Mawien makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-80Ariik Mawien makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-80Biko Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-82Quinn Denker makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half72-82Jackson Rasmussen makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half72-83Zach Bloch makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-83Kolton Mitchell makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half75-84Quinn Denker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-84Kolton Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-84Kolton Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-85Quinn Denker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-86Quinn Denker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-86Kolton Mitchell makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half80-87Quinn Denker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-88Zach Bloch makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-89Zach Bloch makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-89Seth Joba makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jackson Rasmussen assists)
- 2nd Half83-90Brock Wisne makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-91Ibu Yamazaki makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Northern Colorado Bears, below favours Idaho Vandals.
Venue
- Bank of Colorado ArenaGreeley, CO
- Attendance1860
- OfficialsTrent Lovewell, Tyler Kumpf, Eric Curry
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