Pioneer Hot Shots Down South Dakota, 83-80

Denver shot 67.3 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from three-point range in the victory

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Denver men’s basketball team shot 67.3 percent from the field to beat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 83-80 on Saturday night at Frost Arena.   

“South Dakota is a very, very good team, very well coached. What our guys did was show a lot of resolve on the road to hang in there and never let the game get away from us,” head coach Joe Scott said. “We played about as perfect of an offensive game as we could. Now we just need to make sure we get better defensively.”

Denver hit 33-of-39 shots from the field (67.3 percent), the fourth best single game performance in DU history and the best since hitting 76.2 percent on Feb. 12, 1988. The Pioneers also made 9-of-14 from three-point range (64.3 percent).

Senior captain Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) and sophomore guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored 13 points each for the Pioneers, while freshman guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) and junior forward Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.) both had 11 points.

The Jackrabbits (2-4) held a six-point lead with 9:07 remaining in the game, but the Pioneers charged back with an 11-0 run to reclaim the lead, when Chase Hallam hit a backdoor layup with 6:23 on the clock.

Sophomore guard Travis Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) and junior guard Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.) hit back-to-back layups to give the Pioneers a seven-point lead with a minute remaining in the game.

South Dakota State hit a jumper and a three-pointer in a 17-second span to cut the DU lead to two points, and a free throw cut the lead to one.

Stafford went to the line with 11 seconds remaining and hit both, and Denver held on.

Junior forward Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) returned to the lineup for the first time this season after suffering from a stress reaction in his leg, and scored eight points, pulled down three rebounds and added two assists in only seven minutes of action.

In the first half, Denver hit 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the field and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from three-point range, but the Jackrabbits took a 36-35 lead to halftime.

The Pioneers return home to face Lamar at Magness Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MT.

Game #5: University of Denver Men's Basketball Team vs  (3-1) vs. South Dakota State (2-3)

Saturday, November 28, 2009 • 6 p.m. MT

Frost Arena (6,500) • Brookings, S.D.

           TV: None • Radio: AM 950 • Web: www.DenverPioneers.com (Video & Audio)

About Denver: The Pioneers enter Saturday’s game on a three-game winning streak, including an 80-77 victory over Wyoming on Nov. 25. Denver returns nine players, including all five starters, and 98 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season. DU was picked second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, and senior captain and guard Nate Rohnert was named to the Preseason All-SBC First Team. Junior forward Rob Lewis, last year’s team leader in rebounding, is week-to-week with a stress reaction in his right leg. Lewis’ status is day-to-day and is doubtful against South Dakota State. 

About South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits opened the season with a pair of convincing wins at Wyoming and against Mayville State. However, South Dakota State followed it by dropping three-straight to Purdue, Boston College and East Carolina at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, USVI. The Jackrabbits were picked fourth in the Summit League preseason poll, while Garrett Callahan was picked preseason All-Summit first team, and Anthony Cordova earned a second team nod. Callahan leads the team with 13.2 points per game, while Clint Sargent (11.2) and Cordova (10.6) also are averaging double digits in scoring. SDSU returns all five starters from a team that went 13-20 and finished seventh in the Summit League last year.

The Match-up: The Jackrabbits hold a slight 4-3 edge in the all-time series and have won all three meetings at Frost Arena. Three of the past four matchups have been won by four points or less.

Road Less Traveled: The game at South Dakota State marks the first road game in 2009-10 for DU. The Pioneers will board flights for only two of their four road trips during the nonconference season, including the trip to Brookings, S.D. The Pioneers won the final two road games of last season.

Rah, Rah Rohnert: Senior captain Nate Rohnert scored a career-high 32 points in DU’s win over Wyoming on Nov. 25, the most by a Denver player since Yemi Nicholson scored 33 against Northern Colorado on Jan. 11, 2006. Rohnert hit 18 free throws, a Magness Arena record and one shy of John Johnson’s all-time mark (19 vs. Utah State, Feb. 23, 1974) at Denver. The last Pioneer with 18 free throws made was Mark Langkamp (18 at Regis, Jan. 1, 1984). The 6-foot-5 Rohnert also added six assists against the Cowboys, increasing his career total to 260, leaving Rohnert 10 away from moving to seventh on DU’s all-time list. Rohnert has 26 assists, while committing just five turnovers this season, giving him a 5.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Rohnert leads the Pioneers with 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game this season. The Parker, Colo., native recorded his second career double-double against Northern Iowa on Nov. 13 with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rohnert earned Preseason All- Sun Belt Conference First Team honors after earning All-SBC First Team and All-District 24 Second Team last season. The senior captain finished 2008-09 ranked among the SBC’s top 10 in scoring (eighth, 15.3 ppg), field goal percentage (10th, .493), assists (third , 4.71 apg), steals (sixth, 1.29 spg) and minutes played (first, 37.00 mpg).

Three-Point D: Denver has prevented its last two opponents, Montana and Wyoming, from making a three-pointer. The Grizzlies and Cowboys went a combined 0-for-11 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers have not given up a three-pointer since Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Stephan Collins hit one with 12:01 remaining in the game. DU has not given up a three in the last 92:01.

Cut to the Chase: Freshman guard Chase Hallam has made 13 of his first 19 collegiate shots (78.9 percent), including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Hallam has averaged 8.3 points through his first four games with the Pioneers, and he is second on the team with 3.5 rebounds per game.

Foul Mood: Denver and Wyoming combined for 65 fouls on Nov. 25. The Cowboys set the Magness Arena record for both free throws made (41) and attempted (51), while Denver went 35-for-43 (81.4 percent) from the line.

Fresh Faces: Freshmen Blake Foeman, Chase Hallam and Kyle Chynoweth join the Pioneers this season. Foeman is a 6-foot-7 forward from Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. Hallam is a 6-foot-5 guard from Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, and the brother of current DU sophomore Travis Hallam. Chynoweth, a 6-foot-7 forward from Parkland, Fla., walked on the team. Also joining the roster this season is sophomore Alex Pickert, who served as a team manager last season.

Rohnert’s 32 Points Propels Denver Past Wyoming, 80-77

Nate Rohnert had a career-high 32 points, while adding eight rebounds and six assists

DENVER – Senior captain Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) scored a career high 32 points to lead the University of Denver men’s basketball team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Wyoming 80-77 on Wednesday night at Magness Arena.

“I am really proud of our team tonight,” head coach Joe Scott said. “Our guys hung tough and made the plays that needed to be made, and Nate Rohnert played like the senior leader that he is.”

After trailing 44-34 at halftime, the Pioneers (3-1) opened the second half on a 12-5 run to tie the score at 52-52.

Trailing by three with 6:22 remaining, junior forward Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.) hit a three-pointer from the corner, sparking a 9-0 Denver run that included a Rohnert three-pointer that put the Pioneers on top 64-61, and was capped by a Hooper dunk.

Rohnert sealed the game in the final minute with four free throws.

Hooper scored 14 points on the night, and the Pioneers hit 81.4 percent of their free throws, including an 8-for-8 performance from junior guard Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.) and 7-for-8 from sophomore guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

In addition to the new career high in points, Rohnert set a Magness Arena record with 18 free-throws made, which was also the most since Mark Langkamp’s 18 on Jan. 18, 1984, and one shy of DU’s record.

Afam Muojeke led the Cowboys (2-2) with 20 points, and A. J. Davis had 19 points.

Next, the Pioneers hit the road for the first time this season to take on South Dakota State on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT.

 Great game this Wednesday!

University of Denver (2-1) vs. University of Wyoming (2-1)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 • 7 p.m. MT

Magness Arena, University of Denver, Denver, Colo.

TV: FSN Rocky Mountain • Radio: AM 950 • Web: www.DenverPioneers.com

About Denver: The Pioneers enter Wednesday’s game on a two-game winning streak, including a 56-49 victory over Montana on Nov. 19. Denver returns nine players, including all five starters, and 98 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season. DU was picked second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, and senior captain and guard Nate Rohnert was named to the Preseason All-SBC First Team. Junior forward Rob Lewis, last year’s team leader in rebounding, is week-to-week with a stress reaction in his right leg. Lewis suited up but did not play against Montana on Nov. 19 and is questionable against Wyoming on Wednesday. 

About Wyoming: The Cowboys opened the season 2-1 with convincing wins over Peru State and Boise State, following a 16-point season opening loss to South Dakota State. Wyoming was picked sixth in the Mountain West Conference in the preseason poll. Reigning MWC Freshman of the Year Afam Muoeke leads the Pokes with 21.0 points per game, while Djibril Thiam has averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Cowboys return two starters and five letterwinners to return from a squad that went 19-14 overall and played in the College Basketball Invitational last season.

The Match-up: The Cowboys hold a 98-43 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1920. Wyoming is 39-30 against the Pioneers in Denver. However, the home team has won each of the past seven meetings with DU taking three and the Pokes winning four.

Magness Magic: After falling to Northern Iowa in the opener, the Pioneers have won two-straight at home. Since Joe Scott took over as head coach prior to the 2007-08 season, the Pioneers are 23-7 (.767) at Magness Arena.

Assistance Please: Senior captain Nate Rohnert had six assists against Montana on Nov. 19 to move into eighth place on DU’s all-time assists list with 254. The 6-foot-5 Rohnert has 20 assists this season with only one turnover in each of DU’s three games for a 6.67 assists-to-turnover ratio, tied for sixth highest in the nation. Rohnert leads the Pioneers with 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game this season. The Parker, Colo., native recorded his second career double-double against Northern Iowa on Nov. 13 with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rohnert earned Preseason All- Sun Belt Conference First Team honors after earning All-SBC First Team and All-District 24 Second Team last season. The senior captain finished 2008-09 ranked among the SBC’s top 10 in scoring (eighth, 15.3 ppg), field goal percentage (10th, .493), assists (third , 4.71 apg), steals (sixth, 1.29 spg) and minutes played (first, 37.00 mpg).

Cut to the Chase: Freshman guard Chase Hallam made 10 of his first 15 collegiate shots, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. Hallam has averaged 8.7 points through his first three games with the Pioneers, and he is second on the team with 3.3 rebounds per game.

Shooting Stars: Denver is tied for seventh in the nation in three-point shooting at 49.1 percent, led by sophomore guard Brian Stafford, who is tied for the NCAA lead at 71.4 percent. The Pioneers also are 29th in the nation by hitting 51.2 percent from the field. Denver ranked 18th in the NCAA in field goal percentage last season (47.9 percent), 33rd in free throw percentage (73.8 percent) and 39th in three-point field goal percentage (37.7 percent). Junior forward Andrew Hooper led the Sun Belt with a 46.6 three-point field goal percentage, which would have ranked third in the nation, had Hooper reached the NCAA minimum of 2.5 three-pointers made per game.

TV Stars: Wednesday’s game against Wyoming will be broadcast live on FSN Rocky Mountain with Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Greg Lackey (color) calling the action, while Alanna Rizzo reports from the sidelines. The Pioneers are 9-2 in games on FSN Rocky Mountain under Joe Scott.

Fresh Faces: Freshmen Blake Foeman, Chase Hallam and Kyle Chynoweth join the Pioneers this season. Foeman is a 6-foot-7 forward from Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. Hallam is a 6-foot-5 guard from Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, and the brother of current DU sophomore Travis Hallam. Chynoweth, a 6-foot-7 forward from Parkland, Fla., walked on the team. Also joining the roster this season is sophomore Alex Pickert, who served as a team manager last season.

Denver Downs Montana 56-49

Nate Rohnert had 20 points, while freshman Chase Hallam scored 14

DENVER – Senior guard Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) scored 20 points and freshman guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) added 14 points, as the University of Denver downed Montana 56-49 tonight.

The game started with the National Anthem lead by a choir from Denver Slavin Elementary school. The music has greatly improved over last year, when the brass band would play and almost no one would sing.

The game tonight was fantastic! What a great team we have!

“I thought we played extremely well the whole night,” head coach Joe Scott (on left in photo below) said. “Our offense was clicking really well in the first half, and we only had five turnovers in the game, which is terrific. Our defense was good the whole game.”

Rohnert added six assists and five rebounds, while Chase Hallam also pulled down five boards and shot 6-for-7 from the field with a pair of three-pointers.

Denver (2-1) held a 36-22 lead at halftime, but Montana (3-1) stormed back to cut the lead to four with 1:42 remaining in the game. However, the Grizzlies missed shots on three-straight possessions, and the Pioneers held onto the rebounds, including two by junior forward Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.), to seal the victory.

Denver held a 19-16 advantage with 11:02 remaining in the first half, when the Pioneers ripped off a 13-0 run to take a 16-point lead.

The Pioneers hit 14-of-25 shots (56.0 percent) in the first half, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, while the Grizzlies went 10-for-20 (50.0 percent) but missed all four three-point attempts before the break.

Montana was led by preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection Anthony Johnson, who had 23 points, and center Brian Qvale had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Denver returns to action against Mountain West rival Wyoming at Magness Arena on Wed., Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FSN as was tonight's. This is without doubt the most exciting team in Denver right now. For tickets see http://www.DenverPioneers.com

Pioneers Down Arkansas-Pine Bluff 75-56

Stafford scores game-high 19, as Denver earns its first win of the season with a 19-point victory

DENVER – DU Wins! University of Denver sophomore guard sophomore guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) had 19 points to help the Pioneers (1-1) defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-2) in a 75-56 victory Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena.

Stafford was a stellar 6-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 from three-point range for a game-high 19 points after scoring 20 in DU’s season opener on Friday. Senior Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) contributed 20 points and tied a career-high with nine assists. Junior Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.) added 18 points, including 12 in the second half, and two steals.

In the game, the Pioneers shot 59.5% from the field and 52.4 percent from three-point range.

“I was happy to see us fight hard in the second half, but we still have to work on developing that killer instinct,” head coach Joe Scott said. “This was a good win, and I like where we’re at right now.”

The Golden Lions started the game on a 7-0 run over the first 3:37 of the game, but the Pioneers went 9-for-15 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc to end the half with a 40-36 lead.

The Pioneers poured it on in the second half, starting with a 15-2 run, and held the Golden Lions to only 20 points after the break. 

Denver returns to action against Montana at Magness Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.

DU Men’s Basketball Falls 71-65 to Northern Iowa

Brian Stafford scored 20 points in the season opener

DENVER – Sophomore Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored a game-high 20 points, but the University of Denver men’s basketball team (0-1) fell 71-65 to Northern Iowa (1-0) in the season opener on Friday night at Magness Arena.

“We wanted to play a team of this caliber because that’s the level we expect ourselves to be at,” said head coach Joe Scott. “We are going to get better and better throughout this season and I’m excited to see just how good we will be.”

Stafford was 8-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from three-point range.  He also had two steals on the night.  Senior Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and was 8-of-11 from the free throw line.  Junior Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.) also contributed 13 points.

This is the second year that the Pioneers have opened the season against Northern Iowa, who won the Missouri Valley Conference championship and appeared in the NCAA Tournament last year. 

DU returns to action on Sunday as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m.

We got together with 3rd year University of Denver basketball coach Joe Scott this morning. DU opens it's season this Friday with a 7:30 p.m. game against Northern Iowa, then Sunday at 1 p.m. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. www.DenverPioneers.com  
(See me drinking coffee with DU red hat on to the left) After he reviewed the team and the upcoming season, I was able to talk with him.

Scott's an intense, experienced, winning coach who is a stickler for execution and detail, something he learned from his coach Pete Carril at Princeton http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=5676

Each DU player is given a copy of Carril's book http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Take-Strong-Basketball-Philosophy/dp/068483510X. I just bought a copy (used for $1) on Amazon after reading this customer review:

"Every day, before he left for work, [Father] would remind my sister and me how important it is to be smart," Carril writes. "Then, as he was going out the door, he would point his finger at his head and say, 'Use El Coco'"(17). As a young player standing only 5'6, Carril took the simple message to heart -- and, around it, developed an entire doctrine of coaching that guided Princeton to 13 Ivy League titles, an NIT tournament win in 1975 (the only by an Ivy League school) and a classic upset of defending champion UCLA in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. That he did it all in one of America's elite academic institutions, without offering a single scholarship, makes his accomplishments even more remarkable.

Scott's been a winner, both as player (a 4-year letter winner and three-year starter at Princeton) and coach. Prior to turning DU basketball into a winning program (21-6 at home), he coach Princeton (No. 5 seed in 1998 NCAA tournament, highest ever for an Ivy League school), and took Air Force to it's first NCAA tournament appearance in 42 years. His young Pioneer team last year defeated 3 2008 NCAA Tournament teams. With only one senior, this years team is the 8th youngest in the country.

"We have a team that plays to win. That's different than a team that loves to win. Everyone loves to win. Play to win means every second doing the things that are required to win. That's what this team does, on and off the court," said Scott.

"Nearly every game at this level comes down to the last seconds, the last shots. At that point in the game it's not the physical that makes the difference, it's here," Scott says putting his hand over his chest. "It's heart and head. El coco. The smart beat the strong."

This promises to be a great season. Getting to the NCAA Tournament is clearly the big plan. This very well may be the big year. Get your tickets now while they are still available.

Joe Scott Radio Show!

The Denver men’s basketball radio show will be broadcast on AM 950 KRWZ each Monday at 7 p.m.

DENVER – The Joe Scott Radio Show returns for another year, beginning Nov. 9 from 7-8 p.m. MT on AM 950 KRWZ, the flagship station of Denver basketball, as well as an audio cast on Pioneer Vision at www.DenverPioneers.com.

The show will air on Monday nights beginning Nov. 9 at The Pioneer restaurant, located at 2401 South University Ave., just south of the DU campus.

Mitch Hyder, who enters his 11^th season as the Voice of Denver Basketball, will once again host each show.

The Pioneer restaurant will offer food and drinks specials and is open to the public.

The Pioneers open their season at home against Northern Iowa on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. MT and against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. MT.

* - The show will air every Monday, except Dec. 28.

Men’s basketball season tickets for the 2009-10 Denver Pioneers are currently on sale. DU continues its commitment to provide the community with affordable and exciting entertainment in the Denver metro area. Ticket packages start at $64. Individual game tickets also are on sale with prices ranging from $9-$15 for adults. DU students get into the game free with their Pioneer Card. For ticket information, visit DenverPioneers.com or call the Pioneer Basketball Ticket Hotline at (303) 871-HOOP.

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