SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - University of Denver junior Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored a game-high 20 points and added five assists, leading the No. 4 seed Pioneers to a 71-55 win over No. 5 seed South Dakota in The Summit League Championship Quarterfinals at Sioux Falls Arena on Sunday night.

Sophomore Bryant Rucker (Frisco, Texas) and sophomore Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, while junior Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) recorded eight points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Pioneers (16-14)

Denver shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from three-point range, while South Dakota (12-18) shot 46.2 percent (18-of-39) from the floor and 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from beyond the arc.

DU out-rebounded the Coyotes 29-25, and the Pioneers scored 20 points off 11 USD turnovers.

Both teams were hot in the first half with Denver hitting 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from the field and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from three-point range, and the Coyotes shot 57.9 percent (11-of-19) and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers used 14 points off turnovers to take a 38-32 lead to the break.

South Dakota cut the lead to within five points as late as 12:05 in the second half, but the Pioneers finished the game on a 21-10 run to advance to the Summit League Championship Semifinals on Monday at 5 p.m. MT, when Denver will take on No. 1 seed North Dakota State. The championship game will be played Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. MT. The winner of The Summit League Championship will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Both semifinal games will be broadcast on Midco Sports Net and Fox College Sports, and the championship will be on ESPN2. All of Denver’s games will air live on Mile High Sports Radio FM 94.1. 

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's NCAA Division I sports.

 

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