To say that the University of Denver trailed on the scoreboard for only 22 seconds of the game makes it sound as if the Pioneers had an easy time Saturday night at Magness Arena.
But just about every fingernail in the house was bitten off before the Pioneers outscored Florida International 8-2 in the last 3:29 of overtime and won 79-70 in front of 6,244 fans, the biggest crowd at Magness in four years.
Until pulling away in the extra five minutes, DU (9-9, 5-0 Sun Belt Conference) had to perform with pressure-packed efficiency to stay undefeated in league play. Florida International (8-9, 3-2) finally caught the Pioneers at 65-65 on Eric Frederick’s layup with six seconds remaining in regulation. That sent the game to overtime.
“This definitely wasn’t an easy game,” said Chase Hallam, who scored the last eight points for the Pioneers in overtime.
“It wasn’t so easy,” said guard Brian Stafford, who hit 9-of-11 free throws and scored 15 points for DU. “We had some lapses down the stretch of regulation time. I’m glad we were able to play in overtime the way we played in most of the game.”
The Pioneers stretched their winning streak to seven games.
“We played well for 39 minutes and five unbelievable minutes in overtime,” DU coach Joe Scott said.
Scott praised the performance of DU freshman Chris Udofia, who had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Hallam also contributed a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. It was the first time two Pioneers had a double-double in the same game since Yemi Nicholson (20 points and 20 rebounds) and DaShawn Walker (21 and 10) did it in 2006.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (8-9, 3-2 SUN BELT)
Frederick 6-11 2-7 14, Ferguson 1-5 1-4 3, Gary 7-10 7-13 22, Roberts 4-6 4-5 12, Allen 1-3 3-3 5, Bell 3-4 2-2 8, Legion 2-7 1-2 6. Totals 24-46 20-36 70.
DENVER (9-9, 5-0)
C. Hallam 6-13 7-8 22, Hooper 1-2 0-0 2, Stafford 2-8 9-11 15, Thalken 1-2 0-0 3, T. Hallam 5-10 0-0 12, Noonan 0-1 4-4 4, K. Lewis 0-1 0-0 0, Coughlin 0-1 0-0 0, Udofia 9-15 3-6 21. Totals 24-53 23-29 79.
Halftime — DU 36-31. End of regulation — Tied 65. 3-point goals — Fla. International 2-6 (Gary 1-1, Legion 1-2, Roberts 0-1, Frederick 0-2). DU 8-21 (C. Hallam 3-5, T. Hallam 2-4, Stafford 2-7, Thalken 1-2, K. Lewis 0-1, Noonan 0-1, Coughlin 0-1). Fouled out — Allen. Rebounds — Fla. International 33 (Ferguson 7, Legion 7). DU 34 (Udofia 12). Assists — Fla. International 7 (Roberts 3). DU 15 (C. Hallam 4). Total fouls — Fla. International 25, DU 25. A — 6,244.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
