DENVER—Travis Hallam scored 17 points as Denver ended a three-game losing streak with a 71-68 victory over Northern Colorado on Saturday night.
Chase Hallam and Brian Stafford added 15 points each for Denver (3-9). Chris Udofia came off the bench to score 14 for the Pioneers, who continued their domination of the Bears.
Denver improved to 75-45 in the series and has lost only once at home to Northern Colorado (4-5) since 1989.
Devon Beitzel, who was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, led Northern Colorado with 21 points. Neal Kingman and Taylor Montgomery had 10 each for the Bears, who are 0-4 on the road this season despite outrebounding Denver 32-18.
Denver led 29-27 at halftime after falling behind 16-6 early in the game when the Bears made their first four shots, which included 3-pointers by Chris Kaba and Beitzel. Udofia came of the bench to spark a 21-4 rally with four points to put the Pioneers ahead 27-20.
Northern Colorado regrouped from the six-minute stretch where it had four turnovers and managed only one field goal. Two free throws by Emmanuel Addo made it a two-point game at the break.
Three-pointers by Beitzel and Kingman got the Bears to within one of Denver twice in the first two minutes of the second half. The Pioneers broke open the game with three 3-pointers of their own, including two straight from Stafford to put them ahead 50-38 with 12:31 left.
Denver held a 63-55 lead on Travis Hallam’s off balance 3-pointer, but Kaba’s two free throws closed the gap to 63-61 with 1:54 to go. Chase Hallam hit a 15-foot jumper and when Beitzel and Kingman missed shots, he sealed the game with two free throws.
