DENVER—A good start and an even better finish added up to another win for Denver.
Travis Hallam and his brother Chase Hallam each scored 13 points and Denver pulled away in the closing minutes to beat Louisiana-Lafayette 65-52 on Thursday night for its third consecutive victory.
“I was happy the way we started the game and I was happy the way we played the last four minutes,” said Denver coach Joe Scott. “We really dug in and stopped them, forced some turnovers, executed on the offensive end and made our foul shots. We did the things you’ve got to do to win.”
That included going 14 for 14 from the free-throw line, Denver’s best showing from the line in its 12 years playing at Magness Arena.
Tyler Thalken and Kyle Lewis added nine points apiece for Denver (5-9), helping the Pioneers get off to the winning start in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
J.J. Thomas had 11 points to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns (2-10), who lost their 11th straight on the road, including all seven this season.
Louisiana-Lafayette also lost forward Scottie Farrington to an injury with just under 16 minutes left to play when he took a knee to the face during a scramble for the ball beneath Denver’s basket. The blow opened up a gash above Farrington’s left eye, which had to be stitched up. He returned to the bench after being treated but did not return to the game.
Trailing by 12 at the break, Louisiana-Lafayette gradually narrowed the deficit before putting together a 6-0 burst highlighted by Raymone Andrews’ fastbreak layup off a steal that pulled the Ragin’ Cajun to within 43-41 with 7:18 remaining.
Chase Hallam then banked in a layup and Chris Udofia hit a pair of free throws to rebuild Denver’s lead to 47-41.
Louisiana-Lafayette got to within three points twice in the closing minutes, the last time on Randell Daigle’s layup to make it 53-50 with 3:43 left.
But Denver, which led 33-21 at halftime, scored 12 of the game’s final 14 points, including two 3-pointers by Travis Hallam to secure the win.
“We came out in the second half and played with some energy,” Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin said. “We outrebounded them, drove the ball, got back in the ball game and with about five minutes to go, the game was there to be taken, and we didn’t take it. That’s been the story of our season.”
Louisiana-Lafayette had two key turnovers late in the game on charging calls.
“We got some defensive rebounds and some steals at the end, and with Justin (Coughlin) and Travis drawing charges, we wound up with some easy buckets,” Chase Hallam said. “And we were 100 percent from the free throw line tonight and that helped a lot, too.”
The game was the first for the Pioneers following a four-day Christmas break.
“Coming off the break like this and getting one game under your belt and having a conference game under you belt, you can get into the league and you’re feeling good about yourself.”
Scott said winning three in a row “is not a habit yet. Maybe four is. We’ve got another big game on Sunday, another league game (against Arkansas-Little Rock), and three’s the best way to get to four.”
