Northern Colorado Bears vs UC Irvine Anteaters Prediction – 3/19/2025

The Northern Colorado Bears are set to face the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This matchup features two teams that narrowly missed NCAA Tournament berths after falling in their respective conference championship games. Both squads will be eager to extend their seasons with a victory in this postseason encounter.

Northern Colorado Bears vs. UC Irvine Anteaters Game Preview

The Northern Colorado Bears concluded their season with a 25-9 record, sharing the top spot in the Big Sky Conference with a 15-3 mark. Their campaign ended with a 91-83 loss to Montana in the conference title game. The Bears boast a potent offense, averaging 80.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 51.1% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range. Key contributors include:

• Isaiah Hawthorne: 17.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
• Langston Reynolds: 16 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
• Jaron Rillie: 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Defensively, Northern Colorado allows 72.4 points per game, indicating a need for improvement on that end to advance in the tournament.

On the other side, the UC Irvine Anteaters finished their season at 28-6, securing second place in the Big West Conference with a 17-3 record. Their season concluded with a 75-61 defeat to UC San Diego in the conference championship. The Anteaters average 75.9 points per game, shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. They are particularly strong from the free-throw line, converting 80.6% of their attempts. Leading the team are:

• Bent Leuchten: 15.4 points and 9 rebounds per game.
• Devin Tillis: 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
• Myles Che: 12.3 points and 2.8 assists per game.

Defensively, UC Irvine excels, allowing just 66.2 points per game, which ranks them among the top defensive teams nationally.

Betting Insights

As of the latest reports, UC Irvine is favored by 7.5 points, with the total set at 151.5 points. The Anteaters have a 21-12 record against the spread (ATS) this season, including a 10-5 mark when favored by 7.5 points or more. They are 6-5 ATS at home. Northern Colorado holds a 16-14-1 ATS record, covering once in three instances as underdogs of 7.5 points or more. The Bears are 9-6 ATS on the road.

Recent trends to consider:

• UC Irvine has won six of its last seven games.
• Northern Colorado has won six of its last seven games.
• The Bears have played under the total in three of their last four games.
• The Anteaters have played under the total in four of their last seven games.

Northern Colorado Bears vs. UC Irvine Anteaters Prediction

This matchup presents a classic contrast between Northern Colorado's high-powered offense and UC Irvine's stifling defense. The Bears' efficient scoring will be tested against the Anteaters' disciplined defensive schemes. UC Irvine's size advantage, particularly with 7'1" center Bent Leuchten, could pose challenges for Northern Colorado in the paint.

Considering UC Irvine's defensive prowess and home-court advantage, they are well-positioned to control the game's tempo and limit Northern Colorado's scoring opportunities. While the Bears have been formidable offensively, the Anteaters' defense is likely to be the deciding factor.

Prediction: UC Irvine to win and cover the 7.5-point spread. The total is expected to go under 151.5 points, given both teams' recent trends and the Anteaters' defensive capabilities.