DU men’s basketball (13-12, 4-6) traveled to Vermillion, South Dakota to play the University of South Dakota Coyotes. Following the Game For the Ages™ at DU’s Hamilton Gym on January 25th, a double overtime barn burner won by DU, both teams went on a three-game skid. One team was set to snap the losing streak Thursday night and it was South Dakota’s turn to win in overtime, 92-86. Denver led for large stretches of the game but gave the Coyotes numerous chances to get back in the game and, ultimately, win.
The first half was a three-point fest. Touko Tainamo nailed Denver’s first 9 points with three trays in the first three and a half minutes. South Dakota evened up the score, 13-13 on a three-point make by USD’s Max Burchill. DU built several five-point leads in the ensuing minutes but USD kept storming back. While South Dakota started cold from beyond the arc, they heated up in the final 10 minutes of the half, capped by a last-second tray by Bostyn Holt with 0:00 remaining to take a 46-41 lead heading into the locker room. Tommy Bruner had a three-point miss with only six seconds left, trying to put the Pioneers in the lead, but a miss and Holt’s follow-up tray burned DU in the waning moments. Tommy Bruner heated up in the first half and finished with 12 points. Most of the Pioneers points came from 3-point range, going 7-16 and 21 points. The Yotes went 5-11 from downtown. A 21-8 run by the Yotes to end the first half put Denver in the halftime hole.
Unfortunately, the highly anticipated showdown between Kaleb Stewart and Tommy Bruner, scoring stars from the Game For the Ages™, failed to materialize as Stewart exited the court in the first half with an injury and returned in street clothes in the second half.
Denver opened the second half with a bucket and Isaiah Addo-Anrah sunk a tray to draw even. Denver built a 53-48 lead at the first media timeout. Touko Tainamo led the charge and nailed a jumper, his 19th point and followed that with a pair of free throws to give DU a four-point lead with 9:48 remaining. Denver was 0-4 from downtown, unable to pull away, as they went ice cold from distance in the half. A Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente layup, steal and an Addo-Ankrah bucket gave DU a 71-64 lead at 5:38. Denver held a 5-point lead with three minutes remaining but USD pulled even 75-75 with a minute and a half left. Bruner scored 4 points for DU in the final minute and pushed the game to OT with a big shot with 22 seconds remaining, 79-79.
Denver went ice cold from the field in OT and fell behind by 5 points with two minutes left in the frame, 86-81. Two Brenchley free throws and a three-point make pulled the game even, 86-86 with 39 seconds remaining. A pair of USD free throws gave USD a two-point lead. A missed layup by DU and fouls put the Coyotes up, 92-86. and that’s how it ended.
Bruner finished with 30 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Touko Tainamo ended with 21 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Bostyn Holt led the Yotes in Stewart’s absence with 27 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. DU missed 7 free throws (16-23) to USD’s 1 miss (24-25). The Pioneers gave up 41 rebounds, 11 offensive, and missed several good opportunities to close out the game.
The loss halted USD’s losing skid and pushed DU’s losing streak to four games. Next up is red-hot St Thomas at Hamilton Gym on Saturday at 3:00 pm MT.