Preview: Northern Colorado Bears at Sacramento State Hornets

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Northern Colorado team looks to solidify its position in the Big Sky Conference standings when it visits a struggling Sacramento State squad on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Colberg Court.

The Bears (11-6 overall) enter the contest with a winning record, having claimed three of their last five games. They are coming off a narrow 76-71 home loss to Weber State last Saturday, where Ring Nyeri scored 16 points. Nyeri, a player to watch for Northern Colorado, has shown flashes of high-level production, including a 15-point, 3-block performance against Denver last month. Consistency will be key for the Bears, who also rely on contributors like Brock Wisne and Quinn Denker, who each had 17 points in the loss to Weber State.

Conversely, the Hornets (4-11) are mired in a six-game losing streak, all on the road. Their last outing was a 96-69 defeat at Portland State. The bright spot in Sacramento State’s season has been the dynamic scoring of guard Mikey Williams. The standout has been on a tear, averaging 25.2 points over his last five games, including a 34-point outburst at Idaho State and a 29-point effort at Portland State. However, his prolific output has not translated to wins, as the Hornets have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 92.8 points during their current skid.

This matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Northern Colorado aims to bounce back and maintain momentum in conference play, while Sacramento State desperately seeks to end its slide and protect its home court. The Hornets will need more than just Williams’ scoring to contain a balanced Bears attack.

The game will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams this season. They are scheduled to meet again in Greeley on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Up Next: Northern Colorado hosts Montana State on Monday, Jan. 19. Sacramento State travels to face Idaho on Thursday, Jan. 22.