As any senior should, Nate Engesser had all the right answers Wednesday night for the Denver Pioneers.
With the game on the line, Engesser hit 3-of-4 free throws in the last 23 seconds to hold off a a deadly 3-point shooing barrage by Oral Roberts at Magness Arena and preserve a 78-75 victory for the Pioneers in their home opener in Summit League play.
“I’ve been there before,” the senior Engesser said.
Engesser also hit 5-of-8 shots from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, to score 15 points.
For the Pioneers (9-7, 1-2), it was a good start for their desires to become dominant again on their home floor.
Coach Joe Scott lauded his team’s play, especially a second-half performance that had the Pioneers ahead 58-43 with 7:44 to play on free throws by Joe Rosga, who led DU with 17 points.
“We played a really good basketball game,” Scott said. “We had only nine turnovers. We’ve talked about developing a defensive mentality and the need to take care of the ball.”
The Pioneers shot 58.3 percent from the field in the second half and finished with 10 3-point field goals on 20 shots.
But any talk of 3-point shooting had to center on three long-range shots in the last 30 seconds, two by guard Aaron Young, who scored a game-high 29 points, making 8-of-9 from 3-point range, that had the Pioneers scrambling.
Oral Roberts (8-9, 0-3) made 12-of-19 3-pointers (63.2 percent) and shot 53.3 percent from the field. But 20 turnovers hurt its cause.
The Golden Eagles (8-9, 0-3) played without league scoring leader Obi Emegano (23.5 points per game) who was out with a concussion.
