DENVER - University of Denver men's basketball junior guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored 26 points and sophomore guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) added 13 points, but the Pioneers fell to Colorado State 77-66 in a matchup of instate rivals Thursday night in Magness Arena. The loss snapped the Pioneers 15-game home winning streak.

 

"Right now we are not shooting the ball well," head coach Joe Scott said. "This is going to happen, but we need to learn to win these ugly games and not allow the other team to shoot well, either. We did not do that tonight."

CSU (2-0) shot 62.5 percent in the first half, but Denver (0-4) managed to keep the game close by hitting 10-of-11 from the free throw line and trailed 38-34 at halftime.

The push for CSU came early in the second half. After two Denver turnovers, CSU stretched the lead to 10 with 14:51 to go. Denver closed the margin to seven, but the Rams continued to shoot well in the second half, ending the night shooting 58.7 percent (27-of-46).

Denver shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the field, including 8-of-10 by Stafford, and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from three-point range.

The Rams were led by Travis Franklin, one of four CSU players in double figures with 22 points. Franklin also led the Rams with 6 rebounds.

The Pioneers return to Magness Arena next Wednesday at 7 p.m., when they will attempt to start a new winning streak against Alcorn State before Thanksgiving. The game will be broadcast live on Pioneer Vision, as well as AM 1510 and FM 93.7.