DENVER — Rough and tumble.
Those two words were adequate to describe the action, but in no way should they take away from a solid performance by the Denver Pioneers Saturday afternoon in scoring a season’s high 88 points and posting a creditable 69 percent shooting from the floor.
After 48 fouls were called, 24 on each team and three players went to the bench with five fouls each. The Pioneers (10-13, 4-6 Summit League) began a four-game homestand by drilling Nebraska Omaha 88-74 in Magness Arena before 2,643 fans that once again didn’t get a measurable boost from the DU student body.
The Pioneers were powered by a solid first half by hitting 71.4 percent of their shots from the floor that produced a 42-26 halftime lead and set the stage for what followed. Coach Joe Scott’s team didn’t slack off much in the second half, finishing with a shooting percentage of 69 percent for the game. In the final count DU had 23 assists and only six for the Mavericks.
“We shared the ball really well,” Scott said. “We played really well for the first half and the first eight minutes of the second half.”
Scott didn’t have to say what followed.
Coach Derrin Hansen put his team in a pressing defense and the rough house started.
“We had to take some chances,” Hansen said “They had a big first half and we never were able to get close enough to get in contention.”
Guard Cam Griffin agreed that the Pioneers beat the press just enough to stay in command. It was Griffin and freshman center Christian Mackey who cashed in layups off the press as the second half ticked down to 3:21.
“I think we were able to maintain our lead in the second half by beating their press,” Griffin said. “They got it down to 10 points once, but we went right back up.”
Griffin’s free throw and layup, Mackey’s layup and a pair of free throws by Brett Olson had the Pioneers ahead 82-65 with 3:11 to go.
Four Pioneers finished in double figures, with 19 each by Olson and Nate Engresser leading the way. Griffin finished with 18 and was one rebound short of a double-double. Jaylen Love had 16 points.
Guard CJ Carter led the Mavericks with 20 points followed by 19 by guard Marcus Tyus. The Mavericks lost forward Mike Rostampour and guard Devin Patterson on fouls and the Pioneers lost center Daniel Amigo.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or
