Box Score DENVER - University of Denver senior guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored 26 points and sophomore forward Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) recorded a double-double, as the Pioneers opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a 79-62 victory over Troy at Magness Arena on Thursday.
Denver improves to 11-2 (1-0 SBC) on the season, tying its best NCAA Division I start, originally set in 1942-43. Troy falls to 5-7 (0-1 SBC).
"I thought overall we played really well," head coach Joe Scott said. "Troy is a tough team, but our guys did a good job against them and did what we needed to win."
Udofia had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Denver. Freshman guard Royce O'Neale (Killeen, Texas) tied a career-high with 14 points, and junior guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) recorded five of the Pioneers' 22 assists to go along with three steals.
The Pioneers dominated the first half, holding Troy, the second-best three-point shooting team in the country, to just 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Denver drained seven of its 20 three-point attempts (35.0 percent), including four from Stafford who led the Crimson and Gold with 16 points in the half.
Denver held the Trojans scoreless for nearly six minutes in the middle of the half, including an 18-4 run by DU, and led by as many as 21 points with 1:37 to play before halftime. Udofia added 12 points in the half, as the Pioneers went to intermission with a 41-25 advantage.
The Pioneers maintained the upper hand during the second half, shooting 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the floor and never allowing the Trojans to get closer than nine points. Troy managed to make 6-of-12 three-point attempts (50.0 percent) and shot 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the field in the half, but the Crimson and Gold forced 10 turnovers, preventing any challenge from the Trojans.
Denver shot 50.0 percent (27-of-54) from the floor during the game, including 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) on its three-point attempts. Troy was 23-of-59 (39.0 percent) from the floor and 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from beyond the three-point line. The Pioneers finished 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) from the free-throw line, compared to the Trojans who were 9-of-14 (64.3 percent).
Will Weathers and R.J. Scott led Troy with 13 points each. Emil Jones finished with five rebounds in the loss.
The Pioneers host Arkansas Little-Rock on Saturday at 4 p.m. MT. Fans can listen to the game live on Pioneer Vision, Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510 or FM 93.7 and via a live blog available at DenverPioneers.com.
NOTES: Redshirt-senior forward Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is 14 points away from becoming the 31st player in Denver's 1000-point club...senior forward Justin Coughlin (Yuma, Colo.) played in his 100th career game for Denver...Udofia's double-double was his first since January 15, 2011 against Florida International...Denver outrebounded Troy 37-32, marking just the second time this season that the Pioneers had more rebounds than their opponent, but the second time in the past three games (vs. Wyoming, Dec. 19)...DU matched its season-high with 22 assists, also recorded against Texas Southern on Dec. 3.
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