Even with Denver’s first home conference loss this season, first-year coach Joe Scott has accomplished what he set out to do.
The Pioneers lost 65-58 on Thursday night to Middle Tennessee at Magness Arena. But with its home finale Sunday against New Orleans, DU stands 7-1 against the Sun Belt at home, 9-2 against visitors.
When Scott inherited a team that went 4-25 last season, including 4-10 at home, his No. 1 goal was to establish a winning home court.
“We got one left,” Scott said. “Can we finish it off to be 10-2 at home? Who said in the beginning of the year we were going to be 10-2 at home? I’d say, ‘Thanks a lot.’ That means our guys have done something. It means we’ve established something in Year One, and with limited numbers.
“So, I’m not pleased with the result of tonight, but overall, tonight was a great time. We wanted to play meaningful games in February, because we want to know what meaningful games in February are like. They’re hard. They’re tough, man. Every little thing counts. And now our guys are getting that experience, and it’s going to pay dividends in the future.”
DU’s previous loss at Magness was a 54-44 setback against Colorado on Nov. 27, well before the Pioneers lost their two best players — Tyler Bullock (transfer) and David Kummer (broken leg) — to leave Scott with a regular six-man rotation.
Despite trailing 10-2 at the outset and not producing its first field goal until the 10:29 mark, DU (11-15, 7-8 SBC) led 23-21 at half. But Middle Tennessee (13-13, 10-6) took over in the second half, shooting 63 percent from the field, making 4-of-6 3-pointers.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (13-13, 10-6 SBC)
Yates 6-10 4-7 16, Hudson 1-2 0-0 2, Kanaskie 3-5 5-8 14, Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Green 7-13 2-5 17, Gilchrest 2-3 1-2 5, Hair 2-2 7-8 11, Avery 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-38 19-30 65.
DENVER (11-15, 7-8)
R.Lewis 4-7 0-0 9, Rohnert 3-7 1-4 8, Tanner 4-7 8-10 16, K.Lewis 3-8 5-5 13, Jackson 3-7 3-3 10, McNally 1-1 0-1 2, Peter-Denman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-38 17-23 58.
Halftime — Denver 23-21. 3-point goals — Middle Tennessee 4-9 (Kanaskie 3-5, Green 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Avery 0-1), Denver 5-15 (K.Lewis 2-7, Rohnert 1-1, R.Lewis 1-1, Jackson 1-4, Tanner 0-1, Peter-Denman 0-1). Fouled out — R.Lewis. Rebounds — Middle Tennessee 23 (Hair 6), Denver 21 (R.Lewis 6). Assists — Middle Tennessee 9 (Gilchrest 4), Denver 11 (Tanner 3). Total fouls — Middle Tennessee 19, Denver 23. A — 1,547.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
