NEW ORLEANS, La. University of Denver senior forward David Kummer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) scored 19 points, but the Pioneers could not hold off the Privateers, falling to New Orleans 65-49 at the Human Performance Center on Wednesday night.

 

“We did what we wanted to do, but we need to learn how to get better in road games,” head coach Joe Scott said. “We made a few critical mistakes, and you can’t do that and expect to win on the road. But New Orleans played well, and Kyndall Dykes was terrific tonight.”

 

The Pioneers (6-9, 2-2 SBC) pulled as close as seven points with five minutes remaining in the contest, but UNO guard Bo McCalebb stole the ball and drove in for an open layup, sparking a 13-6 run by the Privateers (12-4, 2-2 SBC) to end the game.

 

Freshman center Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 10 points for DU, and freshman guard Xander McNally (San Francisco, Calif.) had five assists, three steals and two blocks. Dykes had 18 points and game-high six rebounds for the Privateers.

 

Kummer scored 12 points in the first half, but trumped him with 15 of his game-high 26 points before the break.

 

Denver held a one-point lead with two minutes remaining in the first half, but the Privateers went on a 6-0 run to take a 29-24 lead into the lockerroom.

 

The Privateers opened the second half on another 6-0 run to stretch the lead to 11 points. Sophomore forward Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) put Denver back on the board with a layup with 17:24 remaining.

 

The teams traded baskets the rest of the way, as UNO maintained its lead and Denver never got any closer than seven points.

 

The Pioneers return home to Magness Arena to take on UALR on Sun., Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. MT. The game can be seen on www.DenverPioneers.com and heard on Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510.