GARDEN CITY, Colo. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a singular, dominant force in the paint and a frantic final sequence, the Northern Colorado Bears edged the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 78-77 in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball thriller on Saturday night at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center.

The contest was a showcase for Northern Colorado’s Brock Wisne, a 6-foot-9 junior from Thornton, Colorado, who delivered a career-defining performance with 38 points on remarkably efficient shooting. His interior dominance was the constant around which the entire game revolved, as the Bears consistently fed him in the post to counter Northern Arizona’s perimeter-oriented attack led by Chris Komin’s 34 points.

Northern Colorado established its strategy from the opening tip, with Wisne scoring the game’s first basket on a layup just six seconds in. He powered the Bears to a 43-41 halftime lead, a margin built almost entirely in the paint where Northern Colorado would finish with a commanding 50-34 advantage. The Lumberjacks, despite being outshot from the field, stayed close through activity on defense, forcing 10 turnovers which they converted into 15 points, and by getting to the free-throw line, making 20 of 27 attempts.

The second half followed a similar pattern: Wisne scoring at will inside for the Bears, and Komin answering with a combination of drives and jumpers for the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona’s defensive pressure, which generated nine steals, allowed them to chip away at several small deficits. With just over three minutes remaining, the game was tied at 77 after Northern Arizona’s Ryan Abelman connected on a critical 3-pointer.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final minute. With the score still knotted at 77, Northern Arizona’s Traivar Jackson completed a tough layup while being fouled by Ring Nyeri with 1:14 left. Jackson missed the subsequent free throw, preserving the tie. On the ensuing possession, Northern Colorado went back to Wisne, who was fouled by Jackson with 1:03 on the clock. Wisne, who had been stellar all night, missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to put the Bears ahead 78-77.

Northern Arizona had two chances to win in the final 24 seconds. After a Bears turnover, the Lumberjacks called a full timeout with 21 seconds left to set up a final play. The ball found its way to Komin, whose contested jump shot from the wing missed as time expired. Quinn Denker secured the defensive rebound for Northern Colorado to seal the one-point victory.

Beyond the starring roles of Wisne and Komin, Northern Colorado’s Quinn Denker provided crucial support with 13 points and four assists. Northern Arizona had a more balanced supplementary effort with Diego Campisano, Traivar Jackson and Ryan Abelman each adding 10 points. The Bears improved to 18-10 overall, while the Lumberjacks fell to 10-18.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 24, which Northern Arizona won 81-77 in Flagstaff. This victory completed a regular-season split for the Bears, who were projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics entering the contest.

Northern Colorado finished the game shooting 53.7% from the field but was hampered by 4-of-15 shooting from 3-point range and 16-of-22 shooting at the foul line. Northern Arizona shot 45.5% overall and 35% from beyond the arc, but their 20 made free throws kept them in striking distance throughout. The Bears’ ability to protect the ball against Northern Arizona’s aggressive defense, committing only two assists against 10 turnovers, was nearly their undoing, but Wisne’s monumental outing proved insurmountable.

An announced crowd of 1,800 watched the tense conference clash. Both teams continue Big Sky play on the road next week.