MBB v Weber State (13 DEC 15) - Highlights
MBB v Weber State (13 DEC 15) - Post Game
MBB v Weber State (13 DEC 15) - Audio Only Box Score

DENVER - Nate Engesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) tied his career-high with 26 points, as the University of Denver men's basketball team won a thriller over the Weber State Wildcats 69-68 Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena.

Engesser hit six 3-pointers in a game for the third time this season as DU made 13 as a team and the Pioneers moved to 7-3 on the season.

The Crimson and Gold led 68-65 with 13.3 seconds left in the game after two made free throws by Jake Pemberton (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Weber State's Jeremy Senglin hit a contested off-balance 3-pointer with 6.3 to tie the game. Denver inbounded the ball and got it to Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) who was fouled with 1.2 seconds remaining. Byrd made the first free-throw and missed the second intentionally to secure the win over the Wildcats (5-5).

Byrd scored 12 points, grabbed three rebounds and added three assists, while Joe Rosga (St. Paul, Minn.) scored 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and added a season-best four steals. Pemberton chipped in with nine points and a career-best six assists.

Denver never trailed in the second half despite being outscored 38-20 in the paint for the game. Thomas Neff (Arvada, Colo.) scored a season-best nine points and hit three 3-pointers with two of them coming in the second half.

"I thought we did a real good job of staying composed," head coach Joe Scott said. "Today we learned to win a close one. Things went our way. Coming in we thought this team (Weber State) was one of the better teams that we have played."

Weber State jumped out to an early 7-5 lead that was answered by a 12-0 run from Denver. The run was triggered by back-to-back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Byrd (2) and Engesser (2) that gave DU a 17-7 advantage. The Wildcats quickly answered with an 8-0 run to cut the Pioneers' lead to 17-15. Weber State took a 25-23 lead, but Denver answered with a 14-7 run to end the half.

The Pioneers took a 37-32 lead into the lockerroom.

Denver was red-hot from behind-the-arc knocking down seven first half 3-pointers. Engesser knocked down three 3-pointers and led all scorers with 13 first half points. Byrd also hit three 3-pointers and had 11 points in the first 20 minutes. Rosga had six points and three rebounds. Pemberton tied his career-best with four first half assists.

Both teams shot the ball extremely well in the first 20 minutes. The Pioneers shot 60.0 percent (15-of-25) from the floor, while Weber State hit 51.9 percent (14-of-27). Denver hit for 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from behind the arc in the opening half. The Wildcats shot 22.9 percent (2-of-9) from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

Both teams shot over 50 percent for the game. Denver shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field for the game. The Pioneers shot 48.1 percent from behind the 3-point line (13-of-27). The Wildcats hit 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range.

Weber State was led by Joel Bolomboy and Senglin who each scored 14 points.

Notes: The Pioneers have now hit a 3-pointer in 295 consecutive games. C.J. Bobbitt (Harker Heights, Texas) missed his fourth straight game.

Denver will take on Northern Colorado in Greeley on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. MT. The game can be heard on Mile High Sports Radio AM1340 with Raj Sharan on play-by-play duties and streamed via audio on Pioneer Vision. For subscription information to Pioneer Vision please visit www.denverpioneers.com.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets to upcoming Denver men's basketball home games 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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