Montana State Defeats Northern Colorado 89-75 at Home
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Worthington Arena
Montana State Bobcats 89, Northern Colorado Bears 75, 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 Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana State Bobcats?
Montana State Bobcats beat Northern Colorado Bears 89-75 at Worthington Arena on January 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana State Bobcats?
Montana State Bobcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup at Worthington Arena, the Montana State Bobcats secured a solid victory over the Northern Colorado Bears, finishing the game with a score of 89-75. This win marked a significant moment for Montana State, who improved their home record to 8-7, while Northern Colorado fell to 10-5 overall.
Montana State entered the game with a mixed recent form, having a record of 5-5 in their last ten games, but they were on a two-game winning streak, averaging 76.0 points scored and allowing 69.7 points per game during this stretch. Their last two games included a convincing win against Northwest University Eagles, where they triumphed 93-54, and a narrow victory over Cal Poly Mustangs, winning 83-80. The Bobcats had previously struggled on the road, with a record of 2-5 in away games, but their home performances had been much stronger, boasting a 5-2 record in their last seven home games.
On the other hand, Northern Colorado came into the game with a better overall record of 10-4 and had been performing well, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten. They were riding a one-game winning streak, having won their last game against Colorado Buffaloes 86-81. The Bears averaged an impressive 84.9 points scored and allowed 78.7 points during their recent stretch, showcasing their offensive capabilities. However, they struggled defensively, allowing a high number of points in several recent games.
Historically, this matchup has favored Northern Colorado, as Montana State had lost all three of their previous meetings, including a close 82-83 defeat earlier in the season. This added an extra layer of significance to the game for the Bobcats, who were eager to break the losing streak against their rivals.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing for either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this contest.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Montana State as the favorites with a spread of -2.5 and a moneyline of -148. In contrast, Northern Colorado was listed at +124 on the moneyline, indicating they were viewed as underdogs in this matchup. The total points line was set at 154.5, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring game given both teams' offensive averages.
The game conditions were favorable for both teams, with no adverse weather or venue issues reported, allowing for an open and competitive atmosphere at Worthington Arena.
As the game unfolded, Montana State took control early and maintained their lead, showcasing their offensive strength. Key moments included a series of scoring plays in the second half, where the Bobcats extended their lead significantly. Notable plays included a three-point jumper by Christian King and a layup from Jed Miller, both contributing to the Bobcats' scoring surge. The Bears attempted to rally back, with Davian Brown making a layup and free throws late in the game, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Overall, the game highlighted Montana State's ability to perform well at home and their determination to turn the tide against a rival that had previously bested them. The Bobcats' strong offensive showing and solid defense ultimately led them to a well-deserved victory.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MTST -2.5 | 154.5 o -110 / u -110 | Northern Colorado Bears +124 · Montana State Bobcats -148 |
Leaders
- PointsJed Miller24Montana State Bobcats
- AssistsChristian King3Montana State Bobcats
- ReboundsJed Miller6Montana State Bobcats
- PointsZach Bloch18Northern Colorado Bears
- AssistsQuinn Denker7Northern Colorado Bears
- ReboundsEgan Shields11Northern Colorado Bears
Recent form
Montana State Bobcats
Last 10: 5-5Streak W276 scored · 69.7 allowed per game3-0 at home
- W93-54vs Northwest University EaglesDec 22
- W83-80at Cal Poly MustangsDec 17
- L57-67at Oregon State BeaversDec 13
- L68-72at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesDec 7
- W82-74vs St. Thomas TommiesDec 4
- L81-84at Utah State AggiesNov 29
- W78-72at Long Beach State BeachNov 22
- W92-55vs Nobel KnightsNov 20
- L58-62at Boise State BroncosNov 15
- L68-77at Stanford CardinalNov 13
Northern Colorado Bears
Last 10: 7-3Streak W184.9 scored · 78.7 allowed per game4-2 away
- W86-81at Colorado BuffaloesDec 28
- L79-86vs Denver PioneersDec 20
- L90-101at Texas Tech Red RaidersDec 17
- W89-87vs South Dakota CoyotesDec 7
- W75-70at Omaha MavericksDec 4
- W104-63vs Regis University REGIS UNIVERSITYNov 30
- W71-53at Air Force FalconsNov 26
- W97-93vs Cal State Fullerton TitansNov 23
- W86-80at Portland PilotsNov 23
- L72-73at St. Thomas TommiesNov 22
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 | Northern Colorado Bears | Montana State Bobcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-64 | 33-63 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 9-25 | 10-28 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 36 |
| Free throws | 12-13 | 13-18 |
| Free throw % | 92 | 72 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 23 |
| Assists | 11 | 9 |
| Steals | 2 | 7 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 36 |
| Fouls | 18 | 12 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 8 | 90 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-46Jaden Steppe makes 21-foot jumper (Christian King assists)
- 2nd Half42-48Jaden Steppe makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-48Zach Bloch makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half47-48Quinn Denker makes layup
- 2nd Half47-50Jed Miller makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half48-50Ibu Yamazaki makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-50Ibu Yamazaki makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-53Jed Miller makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half51-53Ring Nyeri makes layup
- 2nd Half51-55Jaden Steppe makes layup
- 2nd Half51-57Jeremiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half52-57Ibu Yamazaki makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-57Ibu Yamazaki makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-59Davian Brown makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-60Davian Brown makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half53-62Seth Amunrud makes layup
- 2nd Half55-62Zach Bloch makes layup
- 2nd Half56-62Quinn Denker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-62Quinn Denker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-64Jed Miller makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half60-64Ibu Yamazaki makes 25-foot three point jumper (Zach Bloch assists)
- 2nd Half60-67Davian Brown makes 23-foot three point jumper (Christian King assists)
- 2nd Half60-70Christian King makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half61-70Brock Wisne makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-70Brock Wisne makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-72Christian King makes layup (Jeremiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half62-74Jed Miller makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-74Vincent Delano makes layup
- 2nd Half64-76Jed Miller makes layup
- 2nd Half66-76Brock Wisne makes layup (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half66-78Jeremiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half69-78Zach Bloch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
- 2nd Half69-80Davian Brown makes layup
- 2nd Half69-83Christian King makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jed Miller assists)
- 2nd Half69-85Jed Miller makes layup
- 2nd Half69-87Jeremiah Davis makes 5-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half72-87Ibu Yamazaki makes 24-foot three point jumper (Brock Wisne assists)
- 2nd Half72-88Davian Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-89Davian Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-89Zach Bloch makes 27-foot three point jumper (Quinn Denker assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Montana State Bobcats, below favours Northern Colorado Bears.
Venue
- Worthington ArenaBozeman, MT
- Attendance2829
- OfficialsDoug Sturdivan, D.G. Nelson, Justin Shamion
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