DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program will open the calendar year 2025 and its 2024-25 Summit League regular season slate on Thursday when the Pioneers travel to South Dakota State for a rematch of the 2024 Summit League Tournament Championship game. Opening tip is set for 8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MT, and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, and can be heard locally on 104.3 the Fan HD3.     

LAST TIME OUT:
Prior to the holiday break, Denver was on fire from beyond the arc, but came up on the short side of a back-and-forth battle with in-state foe Northern Colorado in an 82-75 loss to the Bears on December 21. FULL RECAP

SERIES HISTORY – DENVER VS. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE:
South Dakota State holds a 23-6 edge in the Division I history between the two programs and a 24-7 advantage overall heading into Thursday's league opener. The Jacks have won 14 of the last 15 meetings, with Denver's one win coming in a 99-80 victory in Hamilton Gymnasium a year ago. FULL DI HISTORY

PIOS SHOOT SIZZLING 60% FROM BEYOND THE ARC VS.UNC

• In Denver's loss to Northern Colorado in the non-conference finale on December 21, Denver shot 60% from beyond the arc on 12-of-20 shooting from distance.
• DU opened 8-12 in the first half, and shot 4-for-8 in the second half.
• The Pioneers performance was its first 60% shooting from beyond the arc night with at least 8 made triples since December 1, 2022 at Houston Christian (W, 93-83).

LEGAL THEFT

• Denver recorded 13 steals in a win over Western Colorado on Nov. 8, the program's most since February 26, 2020 at Fort Wayne.
• Sebastian Akins and Nicholas Shogbonyo had 3 apiece to lead a group of five Pios with multiple steals.
• Josh Lee had five steals in the Pios loss to Utah Tech on Nov. 26, the first Pio with 5+ steals since Justin Mullins (6) in Feb., 2023.
• Denver had 14 steals in an OT loss to Cal Poly on December 17, its first game against a DI opponent with double digit steals this season.

THREE 20+ POINT SCORERS AT CAL POLY

• Denver had 3 20+ point scorers in an overtime loss at Cal Poly on December 17.
• Nicholas Shogbonyo finished with 22, DeAndre Craig also had 22 and Sebastian Akins finished with 21.
• Denver had three 20+ point scorers for the first time since December 20, 2021 in an 84-80 loss to Western Illinois (KJ Hunt 22, Touko Tainamo 21, Jordan Johnson 21)
• Denver had three 20+ point scorers in a road game for the first time since February 13, 2016 at Purdue Fort Wayne in an 88-84 loss (Marcus Byrd 28, Nate Engesser 24, Thomas Neff 21).

CRAIG NAMED TO PRESEASON SECOND TEAM

• Sophomore guard DeAndre Craig was named to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team ahead of Media Day on October 8.
• Craig and South Dakota State sophomore guard Kalen Garry are the only two underclassmen across the two preseason teams.
• Craig played in all 34 games in his freshman campaign, averaging 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game, while adding 85 assists against just 40 turnovers to go with 35 steals.
• In Denver's three Summit League Tournament games last year, Craig finished with 13 points in the quarterfinal win, 15 and 5 assists in the semifinal victory and 12 and 7 helpers in the championship game against South Dakota State.
• Craig, along with teammate Isaiah Carr, represented the program at the 2024 Summit League Basketball Media Day in Sioux Falls.

SHOGBONYO HEATING UP

• Junior guard Nicholas Shogbonyo is in his first year of NCAA hoops after transfering from McLennan CC in the offseason.
• In 2023-24, Shogbonyo was the NTJCAC Co-Player of the Year and was an All-Region selection.
• He leads Denver in scoring at 15.1 points per game, while pulling in 4.9 boards and 2 assists per game.
• Shogbonyo has had 15+ points in 10 of the last 12 games, and has grabbed at least four rebounds in 12 of the last 13 games.

AKINS NCAA DEBUT

• Freshman guard Sebastian Akins put up 15 points off the bench in the Pios season debut at Stanford on November 4.
• Akins is the fifth Pio to post 15+ points off the bench in a season opener since Denver rejoined Division I in 1998-99.
• Akins is the first since Jase Townsend scored 16 off the bench as a freshman in November, 2018.
• Akins is the fourth freshman to post 15+ off the bench in an opener.
• Akins is the 3rd to do it against a DI opponent and the 2nd to do it against a Power5/4 opponent.
• Akins has 15+ points in six games this season, including three 20+ point games.
• Akins made his first career start on December 21 vs. Northern Colorado, scoring 12 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

MILESTONE APPEARANCES

• Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente made his 100th career appearance in his four year career at Denver in the Pioneers game at Cal Poly on December 17.
• Isaiah Addo-Ankrah's made his 100th appearance in a career that included three years at UTSA and now two as a Pio on December 21 vs. Northern Colorado.  

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