MBB v Eastern Washington (20 DEC 15) - Highlights
MBB v Eastern Washington (20 DEC 15) - Full Game
MBB v Eastern Washington (20 DEC 15) - Post Game

DENVER - Joe Rosga (St. Paul, Minn.) led the Pioneers with a season-best 23 points as the University of Denver men's basketball team fell to the Eastern Washington Eagles 74-58 Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena.

Denver could not overcome the trio of Felix Von Hofe (28), Venky Jois (26) and Austin McBroom (18) who combined for 72 of Eastern Washington's 74 points. The Eagles snapped the Pioneers (8-4) three-game winning streak.

Trailing by 11 entering the second half, EWU (6-6) opened with a 7-1 run to earn a 50-33 lead. The closest DU was able to get was an eight-point defecit. Von Hofe knocked down eight 3-pointers.

"You've got to give them credit for their energy." head coach Joe Scott said. "The real nature of the game was, we seemed a step slow all game. They beat us to tons of loose balls. Every rebound is a loose ball, whether it was a rebound or balls being run down off deflections."

Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) and Jake Pemberton (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) both scored seven points apiece, while Christian Mackey (Kirtland, N.M.) scored five points and grabbed five rebounds, four on the offensive end.

Eastern Washington jumped out to an early 9-5 lead before Denver answered with a 9-0 to take a 14-9 lead. After that it was the Von Hofe show as he finished the first half with six made 3-pointers and 22 points. With the game tied at 21 the Eagles finished on a 22-11 run to end the first half.

The Eagles took a 43-32 lead into the locker room.

The Eagles knocked down eight first half 3-pointers to the Pioneers' two. Von Hofe and Venky Jois combined for 35 first-half points. Denver was led by Nate Engesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who scored nine points. Rosga chipped in seven points and two steals.

The Pioneers shot 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the floor, while the Eagles hit 57.1 percent (16-of-28). Denver hit 20.0 percent (2-of-10) from behind the arc in the opening half. Eastern Washington shot 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

Denver shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52) in the game, while Eastern Washington shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51). The Pioneers shot 23.5 percent from behind the 3-point line (4-of-17). The Eagles hit 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from 3-point range.

Notes: The Pioneers have now hit a 3-pointer in 297 consecutive games.

Denver will conclude non-league play on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. MT at UC-Riverside. The game can be heard on Mile High Sports Radio AM1340 with Raj Sharan on play-by-play duties and streamed on Pioneer Vision via audio. 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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