Northern Colorado Bears Edge Portland Pilots in Overtime
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 8:00 PM ET · Chiles Center
Northern Colorado Bears 86, Portland Pilots 80, 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 Portland Pilots?
Northern Colorado Bears beat Portland Pilots 86-80 at Chiles Center on November 22, 2025.
In a thrilling overtime finish, the Northern Colorado Bears defeated the Portland Pilots 86-80 at the Chiles Center on November 22, 2025. This matchup was notable not only for the close score but also for the competitive nature of both teams in the early part of the season. The Bears improved their away record to 4-1, while the Pilots fell to 4-2 overall.
Both teams entered the game with strong recent performances. The Portland Pilots had a record of 6-4 over their last ten games, with an average of 81.6 points scored and 78.5 points allowed. They had a home record of 5-1 and were coming off a decisive win against the Cal State Fullerton Titans, where they scored 103 points. In contrast, the Northern Colorado Bears boasted an 8-2 record in their last ten games, averaging 82.6 points scored and allowing 67.4 points. They were riding a wave of success with a recent victory against the Pepperdine Waves, but suffered a narrow loss to the St. Thomas Tommies just before facing the Pilots.
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. The Pilots had a strong start, but the Bears managed to keep pace, leading to a tightly contested finish that required overtime to determine the winner. Key moments in the overtime period included crucial free throws from Quinn Denker and a three-point jumper from Mikah Ballew, which helped the Bears extend their lead.
In terms of home and away performance, the Pilots had a solid home record, while the Bears demonstrated their strength on the road with a 3-1 record away from home. The Pilots struggled more in away games, holding a 1-3 record in such matchups. This game was particularly important for both teams as they sought to establish momentum early in the season.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any significant absences affecting either team, which allowed both squads to field their strongest lineups. The conditions in the Chiles Center were likely conducive to a high-scoring game, given the offensive prowess displayed by both teams.
The betting market had the home team, the Portland Pilots, at a disadvantage, with a final home win probability of 0.0, indicating that the Bears were favored to win according to the odds provided by their betting provider. This reflected the Bears' strong performance in recent games and their ability to compete effectively on the road.
As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a showcase of skill and determination from both teams. The Pilots' ability to score quickly and the Bears' resilience in clutch moments made for an exciting matchup. The overtime period highlighted the intensity of college basketball, with both teams fighting for every point.
Overall, the Northern Colorado Bears' victory over the Portland Pilots not only showcased their ability to perform under pressure but also set the stage for an exciting season ahead for both programs.
Leaders
- PointsCameron Williams15Portland Pilots
- AssistsJoel Foxwell10Portland Pilots
- ReboundsCameron Williams8Portland Pilots
- PointsQuinn Denker29Northern Colorado Bears
- AssistsQuinn Denker7Northern Colorado Bears
- ReboundsEgan Shields11Northern Colorado Bears
Recent form
Portland Pilots
Last 10: 6-4Streak W181.6 scored · 78.5 allowed per game5-1 at home
- W103-85vs Cal State Fullerton TitansNov 22
- L56-93at Wyoming CowboysNov 16
- W67-63vs UC Davis AggiesNov 9
- W83-74vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden LionsNov 7
- W120-83vs Willamette BearcatsNov 4
- L73-86vs Pepperdine WavesMar 8
- L80-82at San Diego TorerosMar 2
- W87-67vs Pepperdine WavesFeb 28
- W81-73at Pacific TigersFeb 23
- L66-79at Saint Mary's GaelsFeb 20
Northern Colorado Bears
Last 10: 8-2Streak L182.6 scored · 67.4 allowed per game3-1 away
- L72-73at St. Thomas TommiesNov 22
- W88-81at Pepperdine WavesNov 16
- W101-65vs Colorado Christian CougarsNov 8
- W91-57vs Colorado College TigersNov 4
- L83-91vs Montana GrizzliesMar 13
- W72-45vs Montana State BobcatsMar 12
- W76-52vs Weber State WildcatsMar 9
- W68-63at Weber State WildcatsMar 4
- W83-73at Northern Arizona LumberjacksMar 2
- W92-74vs Idaho VandalsFeb 23
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 |
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Northern Colorado Bears | Portland Pilots |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-67 | 32-71 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 8-28 | 4-24 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 17 |
| Free throws | 16-18 | 12-16 |
| Free throw % | 89 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 29 |
| Assists | 19 | 22 |
| Steals | 6 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 52 |
| Fouls | 17 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 3 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half55-47Cameron Williams made Layup. Assisted by Timo George.
- 2nd Half55-49Matúš Hronský made Dunk. Assisted by Joel Foxwell.
- 2nd Half57-49Egan Shields made Jumper.
- 2nd Half57-50Matúš Hronský made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half57-51Matúš Hronský made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half59-51Ibu Yamazaki made Layup.
- 2nd Half60-51Brock Wisne made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half61-51Brock Wisne made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half61-53Cameron Williams made Layup.
- 2nd Half61-56Mikah Ballew made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by James O'Donnell.
- 2nd Half61-58James O'Donnell made Dunk. Assisted by Mikah Ballew.
- 2nd Half61-61Cameron Williams made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Matúš Hronský.
- 2nd Half61-63James O'Donnell made Layup. Assisted by Cameron Williams.
- 2nd Half63-63Quinn Denker made Jumper. Assisted by Brock Wisne.
- 2nd Half64-63Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half65-63Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half65-65Garrett Nuckolls made Two Point Tip Shot.
- 2nd Half67-65Brock Wisne made Jumper.
- 2nd Half67-67James O'Donnell made Layup.
- 2nd Half67-68Matúš Hronský made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half67-69Matúš Hronský made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half69-69Quinn Denker made Jumper.
- OT71-69Egan Shields made Jumper.
- OT71-71Cameron Williams made Layup. Assisted by Garrett Nuckolls.
- OT71-73James O'Donnell made Jumper. Assisted by Joel Foxwell.
- OT73-73Egan Shields made Dunk. Assisted by Ibu Yamazaki.
- OT75-73Zach Bloch made Jumper.
- OT75-75James O'Donnell made Layup. Assisted by Cameron Williams.
- OT78-75Quinn Denker made Three Point Jumper.
- OT79-75Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT80-75Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT81-75Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT82-75Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT82-78Mikah Ballew made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Garrett Nuckolls.
- OT83-78Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT84-78Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT84-79Mikah Ballew made Free Throw.
- OT84-80Mikah Ballew made Free Throw.
- OT85-80Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
- OT86-80Quinn Denker made Free Throw.
Win probability
Above the line favours Portland Pilots, below favours Northern Colorado Bears.
Venue
- Chiles CenterPortland, OR
- Attendance1116
- OfficialsGene Grimshaw, Chris Hudson, Justin Shamion
Elsewhere
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- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond