Denver men’s basketball (2-2, 0-0) played the host, University of Texas-San Antonio (2-2), at the USTA Invitational Tuesday evening. Cold shooting and poor rebounding were key factors in DU’s double-digit loss.

Denver led the first ten minutes with their largest lead 23-16 as they approached the midway point of the first half. A 12-0 run by the Roadrunners gave UTSA the lead and the Roadrunners coasted to the break, 42-35. In the first half, KJ Hunt led DU with 8 points and 4 rebounds. DU’s Jordan Johnson chipped in with 7 points and 2 assists. USTA’s Jacob Germany lit up the Pioneers with 17 points in the frame.

Denver trailed by 10 points early in the second half, 50-40. Denver could only generate a total of 16 points in the opening 10 minutes, trailing 61-51. A run by DU, capped by a Coban Porter 3-point shot, pulled the Pioneers within five points, 61-56, with eight minutes remaining. The Pioneers could get no closer in the final five minutes of the game, eventually falling by 14 points.

Denver could never close the gap with poor field goal shooting (37.3%) for the game. The Pioneers were out-rebounded by 12 boards and only connected on 10 of 30 shots beyond the arc.

Jordan Johnson led Denver with 19 points and KJ Hunt had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. The duo was 11 for 30 from the field and reflected the overall poor shooting performance by the team in general.

DU has a quick turnaround with a game tomorrow at noon against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.