DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program will look for its first regular season sweep of North Dakota State since the 2017-18 season on Saturday when the Pioneers host the Bison in Hamilton Gymnasium at 2 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on Altitude, Summit League Network and 104.3 the Fan HD3.
Prior to the game, Tommy Bruner and Touko Tainamo will both be honored for reaching 1,000 career points at Denver earlier this season.
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 State holds a 20-8 advantage in the series, but it was the Pioneers that came on top in Fargo in January by a score of 78-70. The January victory snapped an 11-game losing streak for Denver against NDSU. The Pioneers are 6-4 in the DI series in the Mile High City.
LAST TIME OUT:
Junior forward Touko Tainamo earned his eighth double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough as the Pios dropped the middle game of their three-game homestand by a count of 92-78 on Thursday night.
BRUNER LEADS DENVER IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
- Tommy Bruner ranks first in the country in points per game (24.7), fifth in free-throws made (178), first in field goals made (212), 49th in assists (124) and 64th in three-point field goals made (65).
- Touko Tainamo ranks 34th in rebounds (232), 55th in free-throw attempts (146), 64th in free-throws made (109) and 51st in field goals made (161). Tainamo is also tied for 45th nationally in double-doubles with eight.
- Isaiah Carr ranks 28th in the country in blocked shots (51).
- Denver entered the weekend 13th in the country in free-throw attempts per game (24.5) and 9th in free-throw makes per game (18.3) and 58th in three-point field goal percentage (36.5).
- As a team, the Pioneers are 10th in scoring offense (84.7) and 37th in turnovers per game (10.1).
DENVER'S OFFENSIVE PACE
- CAREER RECORDS: POINTS: Bruner 12th (1175), 41 behind Chase Hallam for 11th. Tainamo 17th (1036), 1 behind Antonio Porch for 16th. FREE THROWS: Bruner is 3rd with 324, 10 behind Chris Udofia and 55 behind Nate Rohnert. REBOUNDS: Tainamo is 5th (600), 3 behind Chris Udofia for 4th.
- SINGLE SEASON: POINTS: Tommy Bruner passed Yemi Nicholson (2005-06) for the modern DI record in a season on Feb. 8 at South Dakota. On Feb. 16 vs. North Dakota, Bruner passed Matt Teahan (1978-79) for the all-time record. FIELD GOALS: Bruner is 3rd (212), 23 behind Nicholson's 2004-05 season for 2nd and 26 behind Nicholson's 05-06 season for the record. FREE THROWS: Bruner broke Nate Rohnert's record on Feb. 1 and currently sits at 178 (Rohnert - 09-10, 157). Bruner is 22 FTMs behind Vince Boryla (1948-49) for the all-time record. REBOUNDS: Tainamo has 232 boards for 5th-most, 12 behind Steve Simmons (2000-01) for 4th. ASSISTS: Bruner has 124 dimes for 7th, 7 behind Jake Pemberton (2016-17) for 6th. BLOCKS: Isaiah Carr became the fourth different Pio to record 50 blocks in a season, currently sitting at 51, good for seventh-highest in a season, 15 blocks behind Eric Dow (1998-99) for 6th.
UP NEXT:
Denver will play its final single-game week of the regular season next Thursday when the Pioneers head to South Dakota State. Tip is set for 6 p.m. MT on the Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3.
Denver Tickets:
Single game tickets are on sale now. Secure your seat today by clicking here.
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