North Dakota blew open a tight game in the second half going 8-11 from three-point range and outrebounding the Pioneers 25-11 in the final 20 minutes to coast to a 92-78 win over the University of Denver (12-8, 3-2). Denver was outscored by 13 points in the second half, allowing 53 points. Tommy Bruner finished with 32 points, three steals and only one assist. Denver shot 43% from the field to the Fighting Hawks 46.3%. Denver never got in a rhythm, especially when Isaiah Carr got in early foul trouble, as the Pioneers fell 92-78.
Denver and North Dakota traded buckets early, DU led 7-6 at the first official timeout. A Tommy Bruner tray and lay-up kept DU with a narrow lead, 17-15, at 11:44. Jaxson Brenchley scored a bunny at 10:00 minutes giving DU a two-point lead. A Brunner tray and Brenchley three-point play the old way gave Denver some breathing room, 27-21. North Dakota whittled away at the Pioneer lead, cutting it to a one-point with five minutes to go. At 1:16, UND got the late lead, 34-33. Following a pair of Touko Tainamo free throws, UND’s Tyree Ihenacho got a lay-in to end the half for a one-point lead, 38-37.
Tommy Bruner had 17 points on 50% shooting. As hot as Bruner was, North Dakota was as cold as ice from beyond the arc in the half, going 2-14 from downtown. The Denver defense had trouble defending the paint, allowing 26 points down low.
Denver started the second half slowly and Isaiah Carr picked up his third foul in the first five minutes with DU trailing, 49-46. UND went on a run following two Tommy Brunner strips, 54-46, as DU stacked up personal fouls, Carr with four. A huge 12 rebound edge, 14 on the offensive end, allowed UND to pull away, 57-50, at the media timeout. UND heated up from three to go up by ten, 63-53, at 10:25. ND was 5-7 from three-point range to build their lead of 7 points yet Denver remained in contact. North Dakota added to their double-digit lead, capped by a three-point make by UND’s Treysen Eaglestaff, 77-64 with 4:26 left. UND nailed three-point shots from distance (8-11) down the stretch to bury the Pioneers. Denver traded points and fouls down the stretch and the game ended, 92-78.
DU just never looked comfortable the entire game following an outstanding effort on Thursday against North Dakota State. UND’s Amar Kuljuhovic collected 15 rebounds and five Fighting Hawks finished in double figures led by B.J. Omot with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Again, the Denver defense allowed 42 points in the paint and 10 three-point makes, many wide-open to eliminate any chance of a North Dakota road sweep.
South Dakota travels to Denver this Thursday at 7:00 pm MT and Omaha on Saturday at noon at Hamilton Gym.
That was an explosive road lesson on the importance of playing three point defense and giving up second-chance points, especially in the second half. You generally can’t win giving up 92 points, and if the Pios want to win in this league with any regularity, the defensive effort level needs to be better. The players know it, and the coaches know it.
Denver’s guys are all smart enough to know the intricacies of playing solid D-1 defense – man, zone, spacing, double teams, match ups, gaps, perimeter, overloads, post play, box out, help side & communication by now, but the effort level to execute on defensive assignments just has to be higher…
Ah, bummer. I was surprised to see this.
You know expectations around here have changed dramatically–I am now anticipating/expecting DU to win these games, rather than expecting the worst and/or praying for the team to at least be competitive in years past. Can’t say enough about the progress this team has made.
Go Pios!!!