DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball team continued to show its fight on Wednesday, erasing an 18-point first-half deficit on the way to knocking off St. Thomas 75-74 in Hamilton Gymnasium. The Pioneers capped off the win in style, getting a buzzer-beating tip from Touko Tainamo to pick up their first league win of the year.

Inside the Box Score:
- Coban Porter had a career-high 22 points, highlighted by making a 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.  
- Jordan Johnson added 17 points and a career-high eight assists.
- Tainamo continued his solid play, picking up 13 points, his third straight game in double figures.

Significant Stats:
- DU dominated the battle on the glass for a third straight contest, outrebounding the St. Thomas by nine, 31-22.
- The Pioneers freshmen trio of Porter (22), Tainamo (13) and Tevin Smith (10) combined for 45 points in the contest.
- Denver displayed its most dominant half of the year, outscoring the Tommies 46-30 in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
 
Turning Point:
A buzzer-beating tip from Tainamo to win the contest and cap off the comeback.
 
As it Happened:
 
First Half:
The Tommies opened with a blitz, taking an 11-2 run to start the afternoon. The Pioneers couldn't slow down St. Thomas as the lead grew to 21-7 by the 11:48 mark. Denver got to back within 12 late in the half after a post score from Tainamo. But it was the efficient attack of the Tommie the rest of the half, taking a 44-29 lead into the break.

Second Half:
Denver came out responded fast in the second half, going on a 12-4 run to cut it to 48-41 after a 3 from Johnson, giving him 14 points. The Pioneers continued to attack, taking its first lead of the contest at 58-55 after a 3 from Porter with 9:06 remaining. Both teams traded baskets the next few minutes, resulting in a tie at 62-62 with less than six minutes left. Both teams kept it a one-possession game until late, when Denver had its chance. Down one with five seconds left, St. Thomas' Brooks Allen missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Michael Henn secured the rebound and gave it to Johnson, who drove down the court and connected on a lob to Tainamo for the tip in as time expired, giving the Pioneers the win.

Up Next:
Denver (5-10, 1-1 SL) returns to action next Thursday as they hit the road for two. First up, a meeting at Oral Roberts on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. MT.
 
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