DU needed a win following a three-game conference losing skid. It was a sloppy start early in the first half in Grand Forks but Denver built as much as a 21-point lead that would narrow in the second half. DU’s guards DeAndre Craig (11 points, 7 rebounds), Nicholas Shogbonyo (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Sebastian Akins (16 points) played strong down the stretch for the tight 68-64 road win over North Dakota.

It was a sloppy start for both teams, thirteen overall turnovers, in the first eight minutes. DU built a 17-6 lead on an 11-0 run. UND would go scoreless over the next 11 minutes. With 8 minutes remaining in the half, a running Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente finished a break with a layup, 19-6. A Nicholas Shogbonyo three-point play put DU up 24-6. UND finally scored their eighth point and eventually trailed 29-11 at the media timeout. The teams traded points down the stretch and DU went into halftime leading 35-19. DU led the entire half with their biggest lead of 21 points. Denver led in rebounds, 21-16, and shot 52% from the field. Denver with 12 of the 25 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

DeAndre Craig started the second half with a layup. Abdulai Fanta Kabba helped regain Denver’s a 21-point lead, 45-24. As expected, UND went on a run to narrow Denver’s lead to thirteen, 53-40, with twelve minutes left. Isiah Carr fouled out in his first game-action from injury and DU’s lead began to shrink. UND cut the lead to 59-52 with six minutes remaining. With four minutes left, Denver clung to a 7-point lead, 61-54 as foul trouble forced Denver into a smaller line-up. A Treyson Eaglestaff three-point make pulled UND within four points of the Pioneers down the stretch, 63-59. Denver led by two, 63-61, with a minute to go. Freshman Akens went one-from-two at the line and scored a layup to maintain a three-point lead with 20 seconds left. After a free throw make and miss by UND, Nicholas Shogbonyo was fouled and nailed two free throws with 2.9 seconds left for a four-point lead and a 68-64 victory.

DU got 25 points off the bench and DU big-man Abdulai Fanta Kabba continues to develop in the pivot. Kabba finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal in an impressive effort.

Next up is a trip to Fargo Saturday against North Dakota State at noon on Saturday.