DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program used a 52-point second half in a 97-61 win over Alaska Anchorage on Thursday night inside Hamilton Gymnasium.

LEADERS:
Sophomore Shaun Wysocki exploded for a career-high 32 points on 10-of-11 shooting and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. Carson Johnson had 21 to go with six assists and three steals. Logan Kinsey had 14 points and Julius Rollins chipped in 12 to round out Denver's double-figure scorers.

Hasaan Herrington led Alaska Anchorage with 15 points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half:
Similar to the script Denver followed in its win on Tuesday night, the Pioneers hit a triple for the first score of the game and opened the contest on a 14-5 run heading into the first media timeout of the evening.

After a Josh Lee triple on the other side of the media, Alaska Anchorage responded with a 9-0 run in a two-minute spurt to trim Denver's lead to 17-14 with 12:20 to go. Shaun Wysocki put an end to the run with his first bucket of the day, the sixth different Pioneer to score in the opening eight minutes.

Denver stretched its lead back out to eight before another Alaska Anchorage run cut the Pioneers advantage to just one with six minutes to go in the opening half. Back-to-back triples from Julius Rollins and Carson Johnson got Denver's offensive energy back and forced an Alaska Anchorage timeout with 5:05 to play and Denver leading 31-24.

Another Rollins triple fueled a 9-0 Denver run in 1:45 to push the Denver lead back to its biggest of the night at 13 (42-29) with 1:09 to go before halftime. Rollins third triple of his return to the court gave Denver a 45-31 lead at recess.

Second Half:
Alaska Anchorage opened the second half on a 10-4 run to trim the Denver lead to eight at the under-16.

Denver found its second-half footing by getting stops on the defensive end first, holding the Seawolves scoreless in a five-minute stretch, part of a 10-0 Denver run to balloon Denver's lead to its biggest of the night at 16 at the under-12 media.

The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas with another 12-2 run to make it a 25-point game with 7:14 to play. Johnson hit a pair of threes including one that he turned into a four-point play to lead the run.

Wysocki continued his hot-shooting night to get above 30 points down the stretch to continue to stretch Denver's lead to 36, the final margin of the night. 

NOTES:

• The Pioneers scored 95+ for the second-consecutive game.
• Denver scored 50 points in a half for the second time this season, both at Hamilton Gymnasium (vs. UTSA on 11/15/25).
• Denver shot 45+% from 3 for the second time in three home games on 14-30 shooting from beyond the arc.
• The Pioneers had 15 offensive rebounds, its most in a game since pulling down 16 at Kansas City on February 1, 2024.
• Denver played its second-consecutive game without key reserve Zane Nelson.
• Shaun Wysocki finished with 32 points and 6 rebounds.
• Wysocki's point total was a new career high, giving him career-high performances for the second-straight game.
• Wysocki finished in double figures for the second-straight game and for the 14^th time in his career.
• Wysocki netted his first career 20+ point game.
• Wysocki had the first 30+ point game for Denver since Tommy Bruner scored 31 against Kansas City on February 29, 2024.
• Carson Johnson finished with 21 points, 6 assists and 3 steals.
• Johnson finished in double figures for the ninth-straight game, the 10^th time this season and the 30^th time of his collegiate career.
• Johnson finished with 5+ assists for the first time this season and the third time in his career.
• Johnson finished with three or more steals for the first time this season and the third time in his two-year career.
• Wysocki and Johnson turned in Denver's 12^th and 13^th 20+ point performances of the season.
• Julius Rollins returned to the lineup on Thursday night and finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds.  
• Rollins finished in double figures for the fourth time this season and the 23^rd time in his career.
• Logan Kinsey finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds.
• Kinsey finished in double figures for fourth-straight game, the eighth time this season and the 59^th time in his collegiate career.

UP NEXT:
Denver will play game three of its season-long four-game homestand on Saturday when the Pioneers welcome Cal State Fullerton to Hamilton Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. MT on Altitude and the Summit League Network.

DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports. 
Like Denver Men's Basketball and Denver Pioneers on Facebook 
Follow @du_menshoops and @DU_Pioneers on Twitter 
Follow @du_mhoops and @DenverPioneers on Instagram