SAN ANTONIO, Texas - University of Denver sophomore guard Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored 16 points, as the Pioneers cruised to a 71-57 win over Texas-San Antonio at the UTSA Convocation Center on Thursday night.

The Pioneers (12-8, 8-2 WAC) were sizzling from the start, hitting five three-pointers in the first 6:29 to take a 10-point lead, and Denver stretched that lead to as many as 28 points in the second half.

"Our guys came out really focused, and our defense was terrific. That set the tone. We built a lead and kept it," head coach Joe Scott said. "We responded well off the New Mexico State loss which was important, as well."

Senior guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) had 12 points, and redshirt freshman Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting and 2-for-2 from three-point range. Sophomore Royce O'Neale (Killeen, Texas) contributed seven rebounds and six assists, while San Antonio native Cam Griffin nearly doubled his career high with seven assists.

The Pioneers shot 48.9 percent (23-of-47) from the field and 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from three-point range, while holding the Roadrunners (5-15, 1-9 WAC) to 18-of-38 (47.4 percent) from the floor.

UTSA, which entered the game second in the WAC behind DU with 7.89 three-pointers per game, hit just 4-of-12 from beyond the arc. In the two meetings, the Pioneers held the Roadrunners to a combined 6-for-25 (24.0 percent) from three-point range.

Denver was on fire in the first half, hitting 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the floor and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from three-point range, while holding UTSA to 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from the field and just 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. Olson led the team with 13 points before the break.

UTSA's Kannon Burrage scored a game-high 19 points for the Roadrunners.

Denver next heads north on I-35 for a matchup at Texas State in San Marcos on Saturday.

Visit denverpioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's Division I athletic programs.

-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS-

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