Pioneers Fall to Rams, 64-59

Andrew Hooper scored 11 points, while three other Pioneers had 10 each

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The University of Denver men’s basketball team had four players score in double digits, but Colorado State used free throws down the stretch to take a 64-59 victory over the Pioneers at Moby Arena on Saturday night.

“I like that we put ourselves in position at the end of the game,” head coach Joe Scott said. “I’m disappointed in the outcome and that we did not capitalize after we put ourselves in position to win, but our players can learn from this game.”

Junior Andrew Hooper (Lakewood, Colo.) led the Pioneers (5-2) with 11 points, while senior captain Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.), sophomore guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and sophomore guard Sabatino Chen (Louisville, Colo.) had 10 points each. Stafford and Rohnert both added six rebounds and two steals. 

The Pioneers cut the deficit to one point following a Hooper three-pointer with 1:55 remaining in the game, but the Rams (5-3) went 6-for-8 from the free throw line the rest of the way to seal it.

The Rams hit just 3-of-13 field goals in the second half (23.1 percent) and shot 14-for-37 (37.8 percent) in the game, but CSU nailed 32-of-42 free throws (76.2 percent), including 22 in the second half. The Pioneers made 18-of-38 from the field (47.4 percent) but just 16-of-26 from the free throw line (61.5 percent) in the game.

The loss snapped a five-game Pioneers winning streak, and the Rams remain undefeated against DU in Fort Collins since 1979.

Colorado State guard Adam Nigon led all players with 14 points, and Andy Ogide added a dozen.

The Pioneers return home to Magness Arena to take on 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Cal State Northridge on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MT.