UNC’s loss snapped the conference-leading Bears’ 8-game winning streak dating to mid-December, and ended a 6-game winning streak to start the Big Sky Conference season.

I just looked up at the clock, to see how much time I had left,” Mitchell said on the Vandals’ postgame radio show. “I knew I wasn’t passing the ball ... I just let it fly. Honestly, I didn’t think it was going in.

Kolton Mitchell' had 25 points capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and Idaho defeated Northern Colorado 77-76 on Thursday night.

Kolton Mitchell took the ball down the court and drilled a game-winning shot at the buzzer for Idaho against Northern Colorado

Idaho 68, Northern Colorado 57: Olivia Nelson collected a team-high 27 points and eight rebounds, and the Vandals (14-4, 6-1 Big Sky) built a double-digit halftime lead in a win over the Bears (8-10, 1-6) in Greeley, Colorado.

Idaho is a really good team,” UNC coach Kristen Mattio said, adding Nelson is a dynamic player. “She did a good job of willing that team tonight to get that win.”

Northern Colorado Bears thought they called game after a Jaron Rillie layup with three seconds to go. Kolton Mitchell had other ideas. His contested heave at the buzzer swished through the basket, ending UNC's unbeaten run through the Big Sky at six games.

Northern Colorado Bears (14-6, 6-1 Big Sky) at Eastern Washington Eagles (6-14, 2-5 Big Sky) Cheney, Washington; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Northern Colorado faces Eastern Washington after Langston Reynolds scored 22 points in Northern Colorado's 77-76 loss to the Idaho Vandals.

Wisne 6-10 2-2 14, Bloch 1-8 0-0 2, Denker 5-9 0-0 12, Reynolds 5-8 11-11 22, Rillie 8-10 2-2 19, McCreary 1-4 1-2 3, Shields 1-2 0-4 2, Jackson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 28-53 16-21 76.

Northern Colorado will try to keep its three-game road win streak alive when the Bears face Idaho. The teams play Thursday for the first time this season.

RANGELY, Colo. — Reigning NJCAA Player of the Week Esmeralda Galindo scored 13 points — one of three North Idaho College players in double figures — in a 77-49 Scenic West Athletic Conference win over the Colorado Northwestern Spartans on Thursday.

Percentages: FG .528, FT .762. 3-Point Goals: 4-17, .235 (Denker 2-5, Reynolds 1-1, Rillie 1-2, Jackson 0-1, Wisne 0-1, McCreary 0-2, Bloch 0-5).