DENVER  – The University of Denver men's basketball program will close out a two-game road swing to the state of North Dakota when the Pioneers travel to Grand Forks to take on the Fighting Hawks from UND on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3.  

SUMMIT LEAGUE NETWORK:
New this year, fans can subscribe to the Summit League Network, the exclusive streaming home of all Denver men's and women's basketball home games and conference away games. For more information on the Summit League Network, click here. 

SERIES HISTORY:
North Dakota has a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Fighting Hawks won the final two of three meetings last season, snapping a four-game Denver winning streak in the series. Denver and North Dakota have played three overtime games in 11 all-time meetings with all three being played between February 5, 2021 and February 3, 2022. UND won 83-68 in the Summit League First Round last season.

LAST TIME OUT:
Touko Tainamo led all scorers with 21 points and Tommy Bruner and Jaxon Brenchley chipped in 15 apiece to lead the Pioneers to a 78-70 over North Dakota State on Thursday night in Fargo. Denver's win was its first against North Dakota in 12 meetings.

HOT START TO LEAGUE PLAY:

• Denver got off to a 3-1 start to Summit League play, including winning its first two games away from home in the conference schedule.
• The Pios 3-1 start is their best start to a conference slate since winning the Western Athletic Conference regular season after a 7-1 start in 2012-13.
• Denver is 2-0 to start its road schedule in the league for the first time since starting 3-0 in 2011-12 (Sun Belt Conference).

BRUNER LEADS DENVER IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS:

• Tommy Bruner ranks first in the country in points per game (24.8), fourth in free-throws made (129), first in field goals made (149).
• Touko Tainamo ranks 53rd in free-throw attempts (105) and 61st in free-throws made (78). Tainamo is also tied for 60th nationally in double-doubles with five.
• Jaxon Brenchley is 17th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (3.41).
• Isaiah Carr ranks 19th in the country in blocked shots (38).
• Denver entered the weekend 8th in the country in free-throw attempts per game (25.8) and 6th in free-throw makes per game (19.2).
• As a team, the Pioneers are 10th in scoring offense (85.3), 88th in rebounds per game (38.26) and 26th in turnovers per game (9.9).

DENVER'S OFFENSIVE PACE:

• Denver's 85.3 points per game this season is the top scoring average in a season in the program's Division I history, and trails only the 1968-69 (89.8), 1990-91 (89.1) and 1975-76 (86.7) in DU's entire history.
• The Pioneers scored 80+ points in seven-straight games from Dec. 18-Jan. 13, the first 7+ games stretch over 80 points in the program's Division I history, and its first overall since the 1992-93 season (9-straight).
• Denver has scored 80+ points in 13 different contests this season, up from eight last season and seven the year before.
• 2023-24 is the first season with 13+ since the Pioneers had 16 80+ point games in the 1996-97 season (16 times).

DU'S DI RECORD BOOK WATCH

• 1000 POINT WATCH: Tommy Bruner has 980 points in his two-year DU career, 20 points shy of becoming the 16th Pioneer to reach 1000 career points in DU's modern DI history. Touko Tainamo has 910 points on his way to 1000.
• CAREER RECORDS: Tommy Bruner has 275 free-throws made, 33 behind Joe Rosga for fifth on the list and 104 behind Nate Rohnert for the career record (379, 2006-10).
• Touko Tainamo became the seventh Pioneer to reach 500 career rebounds and currently sits at 534, , eight behind Nate Rohnert for fifth on the list and 217 behind Brett Starkey's (2000-04) school-record 751. 
• SINGLE SEASON: Tommy Bruner is fifth in free-throws made (129), 7 off fourth and 28 off the single-season record set by Nate Rohnert in 2009-10 (157).

BRUNER NAMED TO LOU HENSON AWARD MID-SEASON WATCH LIST
University of Denver men's basketball fifth-year guard Tommy Bruner has been named to the 2023-24 Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Mid-Season Watch List, CollegeInsider.com announced on Wednesday. Bruner leads the country in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game ahead of the Pioneers return to Summit League play this weekend. The Denver guard has 12 20+ point games this season, including 30+ in five different contests.

UP NEXT:
Denver will return to Hamilton Gymnasium next weekend to welcome South Dakota to the Mile High City. Tip on Thursday is set for 7 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast live on Altitude 2, Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3. 

Denver Tickets:  
Season and single game tickets are on sale now. Secure your seat today by clicking here.                

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