MBB at Stanford (13 DEC 14) - Audio Only - Audio Only Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - The University of Denver men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Saturday afternoon at Maples Pavilion to the Stanford Cardinal 49-43.

Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc and grabbed a season-high six rebounds, but it was not enough as the Cardinal rallied down the stretch to claim the victory.

"I thought we competed, and we gave ourselves all the chances we needed to win the game," head coach Joe Scott said. "That's all you want as a coach. We competed unbelievably hard, the game plan was effective."

Denver (4-5) led for most of the game but could not overcome a 20 free throw advantage by Stanford (5-2). The Cardinal shot 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the free-throw line compared to 66.7 percent (2-of-3) for the Pioneers.

Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) scored six points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. The Pioneers leading scorer Cam Griffin(San Antonio, Texas) was held to six points and had six rebounds.

Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds. Junior Nate Engesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) playing with a cut below and above his eye, both sustained during the game scored nine points and had three assists.

Denver finished the game shooting 39.5 percent (17-of-43), while holding Stanford 31.8 percent (14-of-44). The Pioneers shot 36.8 percent from behind the 3-point line (7-of-19).

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 13-2 lead in the first half with eight of the points coming courtesy of Byrd. Stanford tied the game at 15, but the Pioneers were able to close the half on a 10-2 run courtesy of Olson and Engesser who both had five points apiece during the run. Denver took a 25-17 lead into the locker room.

The Crimson and Gold were led in the first half by Byrd's eight points. Engesser chipped in seven points and Love had three points, four rebounds and two assists.

Denver shot 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from the floor while Stanford held to just 27.3 percent (6-of-22) in the first half. The Pioneers hit 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from behind the arc while the Cardinal knocked down 37.5 percent (3-of-8).

Stanford was led by Anthony Brown's 17 points and six rebounds.

Denver returns home to start a six-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. MT in a game that can be seen on ROOT Sports and also heard on Mile High Sports Radio 94.1 FM.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets can do so by phone at 303-871-2336, in person at the Ritchie Center box office or through DenverPioneers.com by clicking here.

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