SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  – The University of Denver men's basketball team gave everything the fans in attendance at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center could want on Saturday before falling late to No. 1 seed North Dakota State. The Pioneers lost 71-69 in the quarterfinal of the Summit League Championship, officially bringing their season to a close.

Ade Murkey, in his final game for DU, went out with a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The senior also added four assists in the loss.

Robert Jones continued to show signs of a bright future as a Pioneer, finishing with a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds.

Jase Townsend had 20 points on the night and four rebounds.

Vinnie Shahid led the Bison with a game-high 22 points.

Both teams kept it close in the opening minutes before a 7-2 run from North Dakota State made it a two-possession game at 18-12 midway through the opening 20 minutes. Murkey and Jones led the way early for Denver, each scoring four points.

The Pioneers immediately battled back with a 6-2 run of their own to bring it back to a two-point game after a Murkey layup made it 20-18 at the 8:19 mark.

DU kept it close behind the combination of Jones and Murkey, going into the half down 36-30 after Taelyr Gatlin sent back an NDSU layup as time expired on the break.

North Dakota State started the second half with a 10-6 run to push its lead to double digits for the first time at 46-36 with 15:20 left on the clock.

But the Crimson and Gold fought its way back with an 11-3 run of its own to close within two at 49-47 after a 3 from Townsend, giving the sophomore his 11th point of the evening.

Pioneers got the lead back after a layup from Jones to go up 53-52.

Denver pushed its lead to as large as six after Murkey connected on a layup in the paint.

The Pioneers held onto that lead until a Shahid triple put the Bison up 67-65 with 1:22 on the clock.

DU tied the game twice after that, but could never regain the lead. Shahid got fouled on a drive with six seconds left and hit both foul shots and Townsend missed a chance to tie at the end of regulation.

UP NEXT:
Denver (7-24, 3-13 Summit League) will return to the hardwood in the fall.

2020 DENVER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECEPTION: Denver announced its 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame class in January. The inductees will be honored on the DU campus May 16. For more information, registration for the reception and donation information, click here. 

RENEW SEASON TICKETS:
To renew season tickets for the upcoming 2020-21 year and for all Denver Athletics ticket inquires, call 303-871-GOAL (4625), or visit DenverPioneers.com.

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