Box Score EL PASO, Texas – University of Denver junior Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but the Pioneers were edged 60-54 in double overtime in the championship game of the 52nd Annual Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at the Don Haskins Center on Sunday night.
Redshirt sophomore Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had 12 points and doubled his career-high with eight rebounds, and sophomore Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) scored 10 points.
“That was a hard-fought college basketball game,” head coach Joe Scott said. “Our guys fought through offensive struggles and had chances to win, but things didn’t break our way at critical moments. Our guys deserve credit for fighting and putting ourselves in that position. Losing Brett with two minutes to go in regulation certainly had an effect, but give credit to UTEP making the plays they needed to win.”
Both teams played tight defensive games, as the Pioneers (6-7) were held to just 27.3 percent (18-of-66) from the field and 21.4 percent (6-of-28) from three-point range, and the Miners (10-5) hit 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the floor and 10.5 percent (2-of-19) from beyond the arc.
UTEP was 26-of-36 (72.2 percent) from the free throw line, while Denver was 12-of-16 (75.0 percent).
The Pioneers trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but clawed their way back in the second half, when Griffin, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, scored 13 of his points and Byrd scored all 12 of his points.
Denver was down nine points with 7:26 remaining, when Griffin and Byrd combined for a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to two points, and a three-pointer by love with 2:00 left in regulation tied the game for the first time since it was 4-4. After the teams traded free throws, DU had the ball at the end of regulation with a chance to win it, but two attempts were just off the mark.
The game went to overtime, but the Pioneers were left without the services of junior Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who was whistled for his fifth foul with 2:22 left in regulation.
UTEP scored the first three points in the overtime off free throws before Denver came back with a free throw and a strong drive to the basket by Love to knot it up again and force a second overtime.
The Pioneers took a 54-51 lead early in the period, but the Miners finished the game on a 9-0 run to win it.
The Pioneers were sluggish to start, making just two of their first 18 shots and ending the first half shooting 21.4 percent (6-of-28) from the field and 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from three-point range. However, the defense held UTEP to just 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from the floor and 10.0 percent (1-of-10) from beyond the arc, as the Miners headed to the break with a 20-14 lead.
UTEP was led by 17 points and 15 rebounds from John Bohannon, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Denver returns home to host Saint Francis (Pa.) at Magness Arena on Tuesday at 4 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.
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