In just 10 games, the University of Denver men’s basketball team has equaled its win total of last season.
That’s a big deal, considering a year ago this week the program was without a head coach and in a shambles, and because win No. 4 on Saturday came against one of the better squads the Pioneers will play this season.
DU shot 60 percent from the field in a 63-59 upset over North Texas in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams at Magness Arena. The Mean Green, which played in the NCAA Tournament in March after winning the Sun Belt Tournament, came in 8-2 and ranked 18th nationally in scoring with 83.3 points per game.
The Pioneers, who never trailed and cemented the win by making 10 consecutive free throws, held North Texas to a season low in points and shooting percentage (36.5 percent).
“This was our first opportunity to say that we’re different, we’re better,” said first-year DU coach Joe Scott, who inherited a team that went 4-25, 3-15 Sun Belt last season. “We know we’re better in that locker room, but we took advantage of the opportunity to tell everybody else.”
Scott undoubtedly is making a difference, though his top player, sophomore guard Tyler Bullock, left the team Dec. 7.
The Pioneers (4-6, 1-0) didn’t need Bullock in the finale of a men’s-women’s doubleheader. Five of seven players scored in double figures, and each shot better than 50 percent.
“We’re trying to build something here,” said DU senior David Kummer, who was 4-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line for a team-high 14 points. “Our emphasis is protecting our home court. We’re learning the new offense and everything, and it’s keeping us in games, but the one thing we’re hamming home is winning at home.”
Nate Rohnert had 13 points, senior Adam Tanner and junior Joe Jackson had 12 points, and freshman Rob Lewis had 10.
The Pioneers improved to 3-1 at home, previously getting landslide Front Range victories over Wyoming and Northern Colorado.
“We’re 3-1 at home, but you need more than four home games out of 10 to build a home court,” Scott said. “Yeah, we had four wins last season, and we’ve already matched it at Christmastime. To me, what’s more important is we won our first league game, and against a team that went to the NCAA Tournament last year.”
The North Texas women dominated the first game, leading 37-24 at the half by shooting 56 percent in a 72-56 victory. The visitors’ Jo Hall made 11-of-13 shots for a game-high 25 points.
Nnenna Akotaobi paced Denver with 14 points, and Alisha Godette and Britteni Rice had 11 each. Akotaobi and Godette each had eight rebounds.
The Pioneers fell to 4-6, 0-1.
MEN
NORTH TEXAS (8-3, 0-1 SUN BELT)
Wooden 3-7 0-0 6, Williams 2-8 4-6 8, Bell 3-9 2-2 9, Thompson 0-1 2-3 2, Willingham 1-4 3-3 5, Dennis 6-13 0-2 14, White 2-6 6-6 11, Stewart 2-4 0-0 4, Hogans 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 17-22 59.
DENVER (4-6, 1-0)
Kummer 4-7 5-6 14, Rohnert 4-7 5-10 13, Tanner 4-6 2-3 12, K.Lewis 0-1 2-2 2, Jackson 5-8 0-0 12, R.Lewis 4-6 1-3 10, McNally 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-35 15-24 63.
Halftime — Denver 27-20. 3-point goals — North Texas 4-15 (Dennis 2-6, Bell 1-3, White 1-3, Thompson 0-1, Willingham 0-2), Denver 6-15 (Jackson 2-3, Tanner 2-4, R.Lewis 1-3, Kummer 1-4, K.Lewis 0-1). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — North Texas 28 (Hogans 5), Denver 27 (Kummer 6). Assists — North Texas 6 (Willingham 2), Denver 12 (Tanner 5). Total fouls — North Texas 21, Denver 18. A — 1,196.
WOMEN
NORTH TEXAS (6-7, 1-0 SUN BELT)
Jackson 4-12 1-2 9, Hall 11-13 3-3 25, Escalera 3-7 2-2 9, James 4-10 1-2 9, Sanders 1-1 0-0 2, Howard 2-5 4-4 8, Lee 3-3 2-2 10, Buckley 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 28-51 13-16 72.
DENVER (4-6, 0-1)
Akotaobi 5-12 3-6 14, Benham 2-10 3-3 7, Meyer 4-11 1-1 9, Godette 3-14 5-5 11, Mason 0-3 0-0 0, Otero 0-0 0-0 0, Rice 4-11 1-2 11, Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Leichliter 2-3 0-0 4, Bents 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-65 13-17 56.
Halftime — North Texas 37-24. 3-point goals — North Texas 3-5 (Lee 2-2, Escalera 1-1, James 0-2), Denver 3-21 (Rice 2-6, Akotaobi 1-3, Benham 0-1, Godette 0-3, Mason 0-3, Meyer 0-5). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — North Texas 38 (Jackson 11), Denver 33 (Akotaobi, Godette 8). Assists — North Texas 18 (Escalera 6), Denver 13 (Robinson 3). Total fouls — North Texas 15, Denver 17. A — 438.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
