HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - University of Denver junior guard Brian Stafford (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored 22 points, including 16 in the second half, but the Pioneers fell 53-49 to Florida International in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament First Round at Summit Arena on Saturday night.

"It was a tough night for us," head coach Joe Scott said. "Obviously we didn't play particularly well.  We didn't shoot the ball well, and we didn't put the ball in the basket.  I thought the game was there tonight for us to be successful but we were off.  You can't win if the ball doesn't go in the basket.  We just didn't shoot the ball well.  We came out in the second half and played much better and our guys hung in there.  We just dug ourselves too big of a hole.  I thought our defensive effort was very good.  We were doing everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance."

Trailing by 15 points with 5:21 remaining in the game, the Pioneers (13-17) trying to claw their way back with a defense that caused Florida International (11-18) to turn the ball over 21 time in the game. However, a three-pointer by redshirt sophomore Tyler Thalken (Tulsa, Okla.) at the buzzer left Denver four point shy of the Golden Panthers.

Both teams struggled in the first half, as FIU turned the ball over 13 times, but Denver could not capitalize, shooting just 22.7 percent (5-of-22) before the break, and the Golden Panthers took a 22-12 lead to the locker room.

DU concluded the game shooting 34.0 percent (18-of-53) from the field and 6-of-25 (24.0 percent) from three-point range. FIU was 19-of-36 (52.8 percent) from the floor and 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.

"We just have to learn from this game," Stafford said. "This hurts pretty bad but we have to improve.  We must improve and get better in the offseason."

The loss ends the Pioneers season with a 13-17 overall record.