DENVER Freshman guard Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.) had a career-high 19 points as the University of Denver men’s basketball team defeated the visiting Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 66-50 at Magness Arena on Wednesday night.

 

The victory is the Pioneers’ second straight, their first winnings streak since February 2006, and their third straight at Magness Arena.

 

“Adam Tanner and David Kummer both played really well tonight, and when they do that, it allows the other guys to play better,” head coach Joe Scott said. “Kyle Lewis obviously had a great game, especially hitting those shots in the first half.”

 

Senior forward David Kummer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) had his second career double-double in the victory. Kummer put up 13 points and led all players with 10 rebounds. He also had a season-high five assists, as well as two blocked shots and a steal.

 

Fellow senior Adam Tanner (Melbourne, Australia) had nine points, four assists, three rebounds and two blocks for DU.

 

The Pioneers shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) for the game after nailing 61.5 percent (16-of-26) in the second half.

 

“Winning two in a row is a big step for us,” Scott said. “Now we need to work on getting that third win in a row when we go to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, which would also get us our first road win.”

 

Denver (6-7, 2-0 SBC) took an early 9-3 lead behind a pair of three-pointers by Kyle Lewis in the opening 2:18 and never looked back.

 

The Pioneers held a 25-18 lead when they headed to the locker room at halftime. Kyle Lewis led all players with 14 first half points while ULM’s Jordan Payne led the Warhawks with nine.

 

Denver hit 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from the field in the opening stanza while the Warhawks went 6-of-20 (30.0 percent).

 

ULM (6-8, 0-2 SBC) came within five to open the second half, but an 8-3 Pioneer run put the home team ahead by 10, 33-23, with 16:34 remaining.

                                                                                              

The Warhawks battled back and cut Denver’s lead in half with a 5-0 run, but DU answered with a 9-0 streak in the form of four Kummer points and five points by freshman forward Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.). With 8:04 to play the Pioneers held their largest lead of the game as they led by 19 at 51-32.

 

Freshman guard Xander McNally (San Francisco, Calif.) sealed the Pioneer win with six points in the final 4:15, giving him a career-high in points. McNally also led all players with three steals and added four rebounds.

 

The Pioneers next head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. MT. The game can be heard on www.DenverPioneers.com and Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510.