MISSOULA, Mont. – The University of Denver men's basketball program fell behind by as many as 14 in the first half and was able to cut into the lead but couldn't fully recover in an 83-73 loss to Montana in both teams' first game of the Stew Morrill Classic on Sunday evening inside Dahlberg Arena.

The Pioneers (3-3) had three players score in double figures, led by Sebastian Akins, who had 21 points. Nicholas Shogbonyo tacked on 16 points and Isaiah Addo-Ankrah chipped in as well with 10 points.

Denver out-rebounded Montana 40-33 in Sunday's game, paced by eight boards from Isaiah Carr. The Pioneers also pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second chance points.

NOTES:

• Sebastian Akins finished with 21 points.
• Akins finished in double figures for the second-straight game and for the fourth time in his freshman season.
• Akins point total is the first 20+ point game by a Pioneer this season.
• DeAndre Craig finished with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
• Craig finished with 5+ assists for the second time this season and the fifth time in his career.  
• Isaiah Addo-Ankrah finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
• Addo-Ankrah finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game and the 20^th time in his career.
• Nicholas Shogbonyo finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
• Shogbonyo finished in double figures for the third-straight game, and the fourth time in his first year with the program.
• Isaiah Carr finished with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Carr now has 66 career blocks, moving him into a tie for sixth in Denver's DI history.
• Denver made 20+ free-throws for the third-consecutive game and for the fourth time this season.
• The Pioneers matched a season-high with 14 offensive rebounds as part of a 40-33 rebounding edge. The 40 rebounds was a season-best.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Denver struggled out of the gate, scoring just 24 points in the opening period and trailing by 14 heading into the locker room.

The Pioneers narrowed its deficit to 49-40 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Deandre Craig's layup, to shrink the deficit to 49-46 with 12:31 to go in the contest. Montana responded and outscored the Pioneers the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 83-73. Denver capitalized on seven Montana turnovers in the period, collecting 13 points off those turnovers.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

UP NEXT:
Denver will continue its three-day MTE in Montana when the Pioneers take on Cal State Northridge in a neutral site encounter at 2 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 104.3 The Fan HD3.

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