Denver (11-7, 2-1) played two solid halves of basketball to dominate Summit League blue-blood South Dakota State. After an earlier overtime loss to Oral Roberts at Hamilton Gym earlier this season, Denver was desperate to prove they belong among the top tier of Summit League teams. Saturday afternoon, it was a total team effort, from top to bottom, that secured the first win over SDSU since 2017. It was also the coming out party for Pedro Sanvicente who torched the Jackrabbits with 23 points (9-12 field, 5-7 from three-point) along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
In the first half, Tommy Bruner performed his magic, keeping DU in the lead for most of the first 20 minutes with 20 points. Denver never trailed in the first five minutes and led 14-11. Over the next five minutes, Denver’s lead increased to 9 points, capped by a Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente jumper in the paint. As expected, SDSU came battling back and took their first lead with four minutes left in the half on a three-point make by Charley Easley, 36-35. Bruner took control over the final minutes of the half with a jumper, a layup and free throws to hold a two-point Denver lead. At the end of the half, with one second remaining, freshman DeAndre Craig drained a jumper (pictured) to give the Pioneers a 47-43 at the break.
The second half was a game of wills – Could Denver hold the lead against a South Dakota team that had history on their side? The teams traded points during the first five minutes but SDSU chipped away and a Zeke Mayo jumper gave the visitors a one-point lead, 56-55. DU went on a mini-tear over the next four minutes and built a lead of 11 points, capped by a DeAndre Craig tray with eleven minutes to go. Denver kept hitting shots and grew their lead to18 points on a Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente three to create some breathing room, 86-68.
SDSU pressed the final five minutes but to no avail as the Pioneers were never threatened. Two free throws from Touko Tainamo were the icing on the cake as Denver polished off the Jackrabbits 99-80. The win was a message to the entire Summit League that this team could compete and win against the best teams in the Summit League conference.
Gotta celebrate the good times. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/QQLjK3XrxS
— Denver Men's Basketball (@DU_MensHoops) January 13, 2024
Denver shot 54.4% from the field and a red-hot 48.3% from three (14-29). Forty of the Pioneer points came in the paint, 18 second chance points and 26 bench points in a fantastic team stat line. Denver only committed 7 turnovers in nearly a flawless team effort against 14 for the visiting Jackrabbits. Tommy Bruner ended up with 26 points and 6 assists. Freshman DeAndre Craid finished with 10 points and two assists but his ball handling and critical scoring contributed mightily to the win.
Next up is a road swing to North Dakota State and North Dakota on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
Great team effort, Pioneers. Keep up the hustle and balance.
Great team effort by the Pios! If they can maintain this standard of basketball, the second half of the season should be exciting!
So great to see DU show no signs of letting up in the second half. In past years they’ve built big leads and given up big leads to Summit League teams only to lose the game, but this group showed a killer instinct today. Happy for this coaching staff and group. Now, let’s keep it going!
Good job, DU!!