DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program got 18 points from sophomore guard Carson Johnson and 17 from graduate student Zane Nelson in a 103-73 loss at [2/3] Arizona in-front of a packed house and a national tv audience on Monday night at the McKale Memorial Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half:
Arizona opened the game on a 13-0 run in the first segment, turning Denver over five times in the full court press in the opening 4:14 to take the early lead. Denver scored five of the next eight, a pair from Carson Johnson at the line and a triple from Zane Nelson for Denver's first field goal of the night.

The host Wildcats then went on a 15-2 run to stretch their lead to 22 at the under-8 media timeout. Denver got its offense going again, but couldn't cut into the lead, trailing 41-17 at the under-4. Arizona stretched its lead out to 56-28 at the intermission.

Second Half:
Denver opened the second half shooting 5-for-8 out of the gate, scoring 15 points in the opening five minutes of the frame, outscoring the Wildcats by three to start the second.

Sophomore Carson Johnson didn't back down against one of the top teams in the country, finishing with 18 points in 30 minutes on 7-of-13 shooting.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/cIVqSVsZ2B

— Denver Men's Basketball (@DU_MensHoops) November 25, 2025

The Pioneers offense continued to shoot well, knocking down 10-of-19 in the first 12 minutes of the second half. DU continued to battle down the stretch but couldn't cut into the margin before the final horn.

In the second half, Denver's offense finished 16-for-32 from the floor and 7-for-14 from beyond the arc to score 45 in the final 20 minutes.

NOTES:
Zane Nelson finished with 17 points and 3 rebounds.
Nelson finished in double figures for the second-straight game and for the 28^th time in his collegiate career.
Carson Johnson finished with 18 points and 2 assists.
Johnson finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game, the fifth time this season and the 25^th time in his two-year collegiate career.
Denver has scored at least 70 points in each of its first six games of the season. 
All 12 Denver players that played on Monday night scored. 

UP NEXT:
Denver will round out its MTE with a trip to Wyoming on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. MT. The game will be streamed live from the Arena Auditorium on the Mountain West Network.

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