Denver men’s basketball (0-1) opened nonconference play at Seattle University to begin the 2025-26 season. DU was scrappy and resilient in the game. However, eighteen turnovers and twenty-six personal fouls doomed the Pioneers. Jeremiah Burke led DU with 21 points and two former transfers from Minnesota State University – Moorehead, Carson Johnson and Logan Kinsey, scored 18 and 15 points respectively to pace Denver scoring.

The Redhawks got in the double bonus early as the Pioneers amassed 10 fouls in the first ten minutes and point guard Carson Johnson picked up two quick fouls. DU’s Jeremiah Burke’s 14 points kept DU in contact, trailing 27-20 at the midway mark of the first half. Denver’s 6’9″ Didier Maleng picked up three quick fouls to force the Pioneers into a shorter line-up. Denver knotted the game at 30-30 with six minutes left in the half. A pair of made free throws by Julius Rollins gave Denver a two-point lead. The Redhawks finished with a six-point run and a 42-37 lead at the  break. DU guard Zane Nelson picked up his third foul in the first half as Denver was whistled for 16 personals. Bergstraser subbed out Johnson on defense whenever possible in the half to protect DU’s best point player for the final twenty minutes.

Denver picked up four quick fouls in the second half and DU’s Julius Rollins was cited for his fourth personal foul. The game started to get away from Denver as Seattle went on a long scoring run to lead 63-47 with 12 minutes remaining. Denver held Seattle scoreless for four minutes and closed the gap 65-55 with eight minutes remaining. Johnson started to heat up for DU with two consecutive buckets to take the margin to nine points but the Redhawks kept countering and pushing their lead back to double digits. Zane Nelson cut the lead to eight with three minutes to go. Carson Johnson was fouled taking a three-point shot and cut the lead to 7 with 42 seconds remaining. That margin was as close as Denver could get to Seattle U – final score 84-73.

Next up is Washington on Thursday at 8:00 pm MT (Big 10 Network).