Home has provided the softest landing for the University of Denver, always there to cushion a free fall because of losses on the road.
It was there again on Saturday, right when the Pioneers needed it most. Hot-shooting DU jumped on Florida Atlantic early to post an important 73-63 win at the Ritchie Center.
The victory helps the Pioneers (14-9, 7-5 Sun Belt) keep pace in the West Division, and it was over an FAU team that came into the game tied for first in the Sun Belt’s East Division. Most important, the win snapped DU’s two-game losing streak as the season winds toward the stretch run. The Pioneers have won 13 straight games at home.
“We worked on some things in practice, and I thought they showed up,” DU coach Joe Scott said. “We had a good week of practice, and we did things that we practiced. That’s really all I’m looking for. This time of year, if you can do those things, that’s how you get better.”
Saturday, a fast start gave DU enough room to hold on down the stretch. Down 7-4 early, the Pioneers started hitting from deep, going on a 14-2 run to take an 18-9 lead. They started 6-of-9 from the field, which included 4-of-5 from the 3-point arc.
DU stayed strong against Florida Atlantic’s trapping defense in the second half, in which FAU trimmed an 18-point Pioneers lead to six with just under two minutes remaining.
“We just had to get back to playing Denver basketball,” guard Nate Rohnert said. “We started off really well, we ran our offense well, got some good shots and played solid defense. It was good to see.”
Rohnert led three DU players in double figures with 25 points and eight rebounds. Chase Hallam added 11. The Pioneers shot a sizzling 61 percent from the field and 71 percent from 3-point range.
The trick for DU now is replicating this effort on the road. The Pioneers are 0-5 in Sun Belt play on the road.
“When you put a good week of practice and make it show up in the game, to me that’s the best way to get you to go and do that on the road,” Scott said. “It’s a habit, this is how we’re going to play — home, road, neutral.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
