DENVER Junior guard Nate Rohnert (Parker, Colo.) led the Pioneers with a career-high 28 game points and had a game-high eight rebounds, but Arkansas State edged the University of Denver men’s basketball team 75-73 in overtime at Magness Arena on Thursday. 

 

Freshman guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) added 12 points, while sophomore forward Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and sophomore guard Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.) both tallied 10 points against Arkansas State University at Magness Arena Thursday evening.

 

 “Our defense was bad, and we didn’t seem to be ready to play, and that affected us all the way to the end,” head coach Joe Scott said. “I did think we did a better job in the second half. We gave ourselves numerous chances, but we had a couple crucial mistakes on defense and some turnovers.”

 

ASU’s Donald Boone made a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left in overtime to break a 73-73 tie, providing the winning margin and two of Boone’s 27 points.

 

The Pioneers shot 54.2 percent (25-of-46) from the field and 50.0 percent (8-for-16) in the game. The Red Wolves shot 47.7 percent (26-of-55) from the field.

 

Halfway through the second half, Stafford hit a basket from inside the paint and a three-pointer that sparked a 7-0 run that put DU on top at 59-58 with 5:44 remaining.

 

With Denver trailing by four with 2:31 left in the game, Kyle Lewis and Nate Rohnert both hit jump shots to tie the score at 65-65 and send the game to overtime.

 

Boone hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Red Wolves up by three, but Kyle Lewis tied the score with a three-pointer at the 42 second mark. However, Boone’s free throws were the deciding factor after he scored all 10 ASU points in overtime.

 

The Pioneers return to the hardwood in an SBC double-header with the women against Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday, Jan. 11. Tip-off for the men is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the women are slated for 4 p.m.