Kansas City – DU traveled to Kansas City Thursday to play the UMKC Kangaroos. The Roos employed a tight, aggressive perimeter defense while turning over Denver 18 times in the game. Denver uncharacteristically missed 10 free throws, shot a poor 40% from the field and only shot 23% from three (5-21) in the lopsided loss.

Denver looked uncomfortable all night long as UMKC pressed, blocked entry passes, clogged the passing lanes, and stalled the Denver offense.

DU (13-10, 4-4) trailed at half, 45-37, following twelve turnovers in the first twenty minutes. The Pioneers owned the boards 19-10 which kept the game relatively close. With 4 minutes to go in the first half, DU trailed 32-30 but the Pioneers were outscored down the stretch and a technical on Tommy Bruner and four made free throws in the final minute capped the Kangaroo run. In the half, Touko Tainamo had 10 points and the Roos put the clamps on Bruner with only 6 points.

UMKC came out with a scoring run to open up the second half and built a 16 point bulge, 64-48 in the first seven minutes. DU wilted under the Roos pressure and shots would not fall. Isaiah Carr stopped the bleeding with a dunk-and-one but it was too late. UMKC coasted from there. DU closed the gap to ten but could never make a serious run at the Roos over the final 10 minutes.

Touko Tainamo paced DU with 21 points and 5 boards. Bruner finished with 12 points, 9 assists and 3 rebounds in the loss. UMKC’s guards pressed and pestered Bruner all night long and disrupted DU’s offensive tempo.

If Denver wants to salvage a road split and remain in the top half of the Summit League, they will have to play a much better all-around game against ORU at 6:00 pm MT Saturday in Tulsa.