Oscar Robertson, ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich, Elvin Hayes, and Larry Bird. DU’s Tommy Bruner may join their elite club. Bruner (25.3 PPG) holds a 2.0 points-per-game lead over his nearest rival heading into his last three conference games this season. The NCAA individual scoring title still hangs in the balance. Can Bruner, a fifth-year graduate student, hold on to the scoring title down the stretch as the Pioneers also battle for Summit League Tournament seeding? Continue reading Tommy Bruner on Cusp of Historic Achievement
Monthly Archives: February 2024
Pioneers Bounce Back from Blown Lead to Blow Out Bulldogs, 5-2
A night after blowing a late two-goal lead before recovering in overtime, the #5 Denver Pioneers (20-8-2, 11-6-1 NCHC, 31 pts) bounced back to blow out the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (10-15-4, 6-11-1 NCHC, 21 pts), 5-2 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth. The Pioneers scored the game’s first three goals, including a Zeev Buium marker just 31 seconds into the game and Sam Harris scored twice over the second and third periods to seal the regulation victory and claim five of the six points at stake this weekend. Continue reading Pioneers Bounce Back from Blown Lead to Blow Out Bulldogs, 5-2
GAME FOR THE AGES™ Part II: DU Overcomes 20 Point Second Half Deficit to Defeat NDSU, 77-71
All hope was lost Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Gym. North Dakota State’s Noah Fedderson sunk a pair of free throws to put DU down by 20 points, 52-32, early in the second half. The Bison held a steady advantage with a 19-point bulge four minutes later after Jacar White buried a three-point shot with 13:45 remaining. From that point forward, Denver caught fire, outscoring NDSU 39-14 down the stretch, led by a seldom-used Pioneer Josh Lee, a scrambling baseline defense and a red-hot Tommy Bruner to down NDSU 77-71. Continue reading GAME FOR THE AGES™ Part II: DU Overcomes 20 Point Second Half Deficit to Defeat NDSU, 77-71
Denver Averts Catastrophe in Overtime win Over UMD, 5-4
#5 Denver (19-8-2, 10-6-1) had dropped to fifth in the NCHC standings and, despite their lofty national ranking, the trip to Minnesota Duluth felt like a must-win series. Coming off an open weekend after dropping three of their last four games and going on the road, could Denver regain their form in the final quarter of NCHC Play? Denver carried a comfortable 4-2 lead into the final chaotic three minutes but needed overtime to secure the win, 5-4. Continue reading Denver Averts Catastrophe in Overtime win Over UMD, 5-4
Denver Fades Down the Stretch to North Dakota, 88-75
Denver (14-13, 5-7) trailed by four points at halftime. Just like their earlier trip to North Dakota, they made three-point shots (6 of 8 for UND in the second half) and outshot DU from the field with many of their other points coming in the paint. Treyson Eaglestaff shot Denver out of the building with 27 points in the second half. Denver was within two points of the lead with under four minutes remaining but came unraveled down the stretch, falling by 13 points, 88-75. The late-game fade has become an ongoing problem for Denver in conference play. Continue reading Denver Fades Down the Stretch to North Dakota, 88-75
Update: DU Men’s Soccer Impacts Conference Realignment Options
College soccer season is still nearly seven months away but the Summit League and University of Denver have several key decisions that will need to be considered and made by this summer.
DU men’s soccer, a marquee sport for the University of Denver, continues to look vulnerable with the loss of former Summit League member school Western Illinois to the Ohio Valley Conference. Jeff Colpack of The Mitchell Republic cited the outlook as ‘bleak’ to replace the Leathernecks with a sixth team for the Summit League membership and an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. Ironically, Denver men’s soccer may be the spark to drive DU to seriously examine other conference options. All this while the NCAA is facing extinction as impatient power-conference members are at the precipice of a break-away as the gulf between the haves and have-nots looks irreconcilable. Continue reading Update: DU Men’s Soccer Impacts Conference Realignment Options
Hutchinson is Perfection in Magness!
Senior Jessica Hutchinson scored a perfect 10.0 on Floor and achieved a career high All Around score of 39.825 in Denver’s win on 2/11/24. Continue reading Hutchinson is Perfection in Magness!
How Hard Is It To Be A DU Gymnast?
Coming off a stellar performance last week, DU gymnastics has a lot to be proud of. But what does it take to get to 198 points? Continue reading How Hard Is It To Be A DU Gymnast?
Denver Shoots the Lights Out, Downs St Thomas, 94-77
Following a four-game losing streak, Denver men’s basketball (14-12, 5-6) took their frustration out on St. Thomas by scorching the Tommies Saturday afternoon. DU shot 57.9% from the field, 40% from Three (10-25) and 18 of 20 from the line. Ultimately, it was sound defense that triggered the win along with veteran Jaxson Brenchley playing his best game of the season. Brenchley finished with a glittering stat line of 25 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists along with a steal and a block in 37 minutes. The Utah transfer was just one star of many for the afternoon at Hamilton Gym who owned the Tommies from start to finish. Continue reading Denver Shoots the Lights Out, Downs St Thomas, 94-77
Denver Battles Weather, Field and AFA in 11-9 Win
It was a cold, yellow-ball day at Peter Barton stadium when #9 DU men’s Lacrosse (2-0) opened against Air Force. The conditions included freezing sleet throughout the game on a new carpet that played like a slippery slide. Legendary head Coach Bill Tierney was in the radio booth while his protege, Matt Brown, led the Pioneers in the uncertain conditions. Tierney must have been beside himself, witnessed 29 total turnovers in the first half by Air Force (13) and Denver (16). The teams turned over the ball another 20 times in the second half as the field appeared to get even more slippery while making unwise passes and clears. And yes, the footing was treacherous. Ultimately, the Pioneers figured it out in the final minutes and eeked out an 11-9 win over AFA. Continue reading Denver Battles Weather, Field and AFA in 11-9 Win