Quinn Denker returned to the lineup with a career-high 33 points and Northern Colorado beat Colorado 86-81 on Sunday in Boulder, Colo.
Denker, who missed the previous two games after hand surgery, hit all seven of his shots in the second half to lead Northern Colorado (10-3) to the upset. He added eight rebounds and eight assists.
Ibu Yamazaki scored 19 points and Brock Wisne had 13 points for the Bears, who got their first win over Colorado since 1936.
Isaiah Johnson scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Barrington Hargress scored 18 points, Bangot Dak contributed 16 points and Sebastian Rancik scored 14 for the Buffaloes (10-3).
The Bears led 37-35 at halftime but Colorado answered with eight consecutive points to take its biggest lead, 49-43, with 15:14 remaining. Denker’s hook brought Northern Colorado within one and Yamazaki’s fourth 3-pointer of the day started a 7-0 run to make it 59-55.
Colorado responded to tie it at 66 on Dak’s 3-pointer but the Bears answered. Denker hit a 3-pointer, the Buffaloes turned it over and Zach Bloch hit from deep to give Northern Colorado a 74-68 lead with 5:40 remaining.
Johnson missed a layup out of a timeout, and Egan Shields hit two free throws to give the Bears an eight-point lead, but Colorado responded.
Hargress made two layups around a Northern Colorado turnover to cut the deficit to 76-72 at the last media timeout.
Another Bears turnover led to Johnson’s layup and Rancik tied it with two free throws with 3:16 left. Hargress answered two free throws by Denker and then hit a jumper to put the Buffaloes back in front, but Denker’s bucket tied it again at 80 with 1:31 left.
Denker’s turnaround gave Northern Colorado an 82-80 lead with 42 seconds left and Johnson split a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to keep the Bears in front.
Yamazaki hit two free throws, the Buffaloes missed two 3-point attempts and Denker sealed it with two more free throws.
