Box Score DENVER – The University of Denver fell 63-50 to UC Irvine despite junior Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scoring 14 points at Magness Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) shot a season-best 4-of-6, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc for the Pioneers (5-6). Junior Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) had a game-high seven rebounds.
“They just outplayed us,” head coach Joe Scott said. “For whatever the reason, we were a little flat, and it just was one of those days, one of those learning experiences. You’ve got to be ready to play all the time and try to get them to understand that without going nuts in practice. UC Irvine were ready, they had a game plan and we seemed to allow their game plan to affect us, affect our energy and you’ve got to give them credit for that.”
The Anteaters (7-6) went on an 11-2 run early in the second half, including three three-pointers by freshman Luke Nelson, to 43-35 lead with 14:47 remaining in the game. UCI stretched the lead to as many as 13 points, finishing the game with four trips to the free throw line to seal the win.
Nelson and senior Chris McNealy led UC Irvine with 14 points each. Freshman Mamadou Ndiaye, a 7-6 center and the tallest active player in college basketball, finished with 11 points off five field goals, all dunks, and a free throw. Additionally, Ndiaye had a game-high five blocks.
The Pioneers were held to 34.0 percent shooting (17-of-50) and 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from beyond the arc, while the Anteaters hit 61.5 percent from the floor (24-of-39) and 50.0 percent from three-point range (6-of-12).
Denver next travels to El Paso, Texas, for the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The Pioneers face Alcorn State on Dec. 28th at 5 p.m. MT and UTEP the following day at 7 p.m. MT.
Individual home game tickets for men's basketball are on sale now with prices starting at $9 for adults. Single-game tickets can be purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336 or online at DenverPioneers.com/tickets. DU students are admitted to all Denver men's basketball games FREE with their Pioneer Card.
DU continues its commitment to provide the community with the most affordable and exciting entertainment in the Denver metro area.
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