University of Denver freshman Rob Lewis hit two free throws with 9.8 seconds left in overtime, giving the Pioneers a 76-75 win over East Central on Thursday in the first round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Norman, Okla.
Lewis scored 19 points as Denver (1-0) made Joe Scott’s debut as coach successful against the school from Ada, Okla.
Denver will play Oklahoma tonight at 6 o’clock. The Norman regional winner will play Memphis in New York in the tournament semifinals next Friday.
DU blew a 20-point second-half lead but rallied from a four-point deficit in the final 15 seconds of OT.
Denver forward David Kummer, who missed last season with a knee injury, scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, both career highs.
Metro State loses in NCAA soccer tournament
The Midwestern State men’s soccer team scored six unanswered goals and went on to defeat Metro State 8-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament in Canyon, Texas.
The Roadrunners’ goal was score by Phillip Owen in the 83rd minute off a free kick.
Metro State ended the season with 16 wins, the most ever by a Roadrunners team, and Owen leaves Metro State as the all-time leader in points (132) and goals (53).
The Fort Lewis men’s team also lost in the first round, 2-1 to West Texas A&M.
The Skyhawks took the first lead after Nick Kirschof scored in the 30th minute, but West Texas A&M responded in the 58th minute to tie the score at 1-1.
The game-winner came from Itamar Keinan in the 70th minute, and the Buffaloes held on to win, advancing to the second round. The Skyhawks finished their season 15-6-1 overall.
Western State’s Michel honored
In her first year as coach of the cross country team, Western State’s Jennifer Michel has been named the North Central Regional men’s coach of the year.
One of only five women in the nation coaching both the men’s and women’s teams, she replaced longtime coach Duane Vandenbusche and directed the Western men to a victory over Adams State at the regional championships. She also coached the women’s team to a second-place finish.
After the victory at the regional championships, the Mountaineers men’s team was ranked No. 1 in this week’s national rankings.
DU women’s soccer team in Sun Belt final
With a 3-0 victory over the University Arkansas-Little Rock, the University of Denver women’s soccer team advanced to the Sun Belt Conference championship game.
The Pioneers held the Trojans to only two shots and will play North Texas on Saturday at noon.
UNC golfers cap season with 14th-place finish
The University of Northern Colorado men’s golf team completed its season by finishing 14th at the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif.
The Bears shot a three-round total of 883, while Eric Higgins was the top Northern Colorado finisher, tying for 31st place with a three-day total of 214.
