DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program broke a school record for points in a game that lasted 50 years and 10 days on Tuesday night when the Pioneers defeated UCCS 129-93 inside Hamilton Gymnasium.

LEADERS:
Denver had five players finish with 17+ points on Tuesday. Carson Johnson had 24 points that included a 6-for-6 day from beyond the arc in just 27 minutes. Jeremiah Burke had 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a team-high 30 minutes. Shaun Wysocki chipped in 19 points and seven boards, while Julius Rollins added 18 more. Didier Maleng had his first career double-double, scoring 17 points and picking up 10 boards. Maleng scored the 123^rd point that broke the school record with 3:20 to play.

Mario Williams Jr. led UCCS with 35 points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half:
Back-to-back triples from Carson Johnson and Zane Nelson earned Denver a 10-6 lead with 16:40 to go. A put-back layup from Jeremiah Burke pushed that lead out to 12-6 at the under-16 media timeout.

Johnson hit his second triple in the early going to extend Denver's run to 13-2 in a near four minute span and push Denver's lead to 17-8 with 14:30 to play. Denver doubled up UCCS in the first 8:09 of the contest, leading 26-13 at the under-12.

Burke and Johnson continued to lead Denver's offense and both reached double figures in the first 12 minutes of the first half to bolster Denver's lead all the way out to 21 at the under-8 media timeout.

UCCS' Mario Williams hit three-consecutive three-pointers to get up to 19 points, part of an 11-2 Mountain Lions run that cut Denver's advantage to 15 to force a Denver timeout with 4:39 to go.

Denver closed the half making six of its last seven attempts from the field to restore its advantage to 22 points at the intermission. Johnson led the Pioneers with 18 first-half points, while Burke chipped in 17 points and six rebounds.

Second Half:
Denver opened the second-half on a 22-16 edge to extend its lead to its biggest of the night at 28 with 13:49 to play. Burke and Johnson both eclipsed 20 point by the first media timeout.

The Pioneers continued to extend their lead, taking a 103-64 lead with 9:07 to go as Didier Maleng became the fifth Pioneer to get into double figures on the night.

Denver got to the 50-point mark in the second half with seven minutes to play to make it a 109-71 game with 7:05 to go.

Maleng dunked home his 15^th point of the night to break Denver's school record for points in a game at 123 with 3:20 to play.

NOTES:

• Denver set its school record for points in a game with 129.
• The previous record was 122, set on December 6, 1975 against Northern Montana.
• The Pioneers scored 110+ points for the first time since January 2, 1994 against Rockford.
• Denver scored 60 points in the first half, its first 60+ point half since Feb. 24, 2022 at St. Thomas (62).
• The Pioneers added 69 more points in the second half, its first game with 60+ points in both halves in program history.
• The 222 combined points on Tuesday were the third-most in program history.
• Denver's 48 field goals made, tied for the fourth-most in a game in program history.
• The Pioneers 68.6% shooting percentage was the fifth-best in a single game in program history.
• Denver shot over 65% for the first time since shooting 67.3% at Houston Christian on December 1, 2022.
• The Pioneers pulled down 45 rebounds for the first time since grabbing 47 against Oral Roberts on December, 31, 2023.
• Denver had 10 different players score, including eight with 6+ points.
• Carson Johnson finished with 24 points and 2 assists.
• Johnson finished in double figures for the 11^th time this season and the 31^st time in his career.
• Johnson finished with 20+ points for the fifth time this season and the 17^th time in his career.
• Johnson's 6 triples is a new season high.
• Johnson had 18 of his points in the opening 20 minutes.
• Jeremiah Burke finished with 23 points and 8 rebounds.
• Burke finished in double figures for the second-straight game, the ninth time this season and the 11^th time of his career.
• Burke finished with 20+ points for the second-straight game, the sixth time this season and of his career.
• Burke, who entered the game leading Denver in first-half scoring had 17 in the opening 20 minutes.
• Shaun Wysocki finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds.
• Wysocki finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game, the fourth time this season and the 16^th time in his career.
• Julius Rollins finished with 18 points and 5 assists.
• Rollins finished in double figures for the third-straight game, the sixth time this season and the 25^th time in his career.
• Rollins finished with 5+ assists for the first time in his career.
• Didier Maleng finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• Maleng finished with his first career double-double, and Denver's second of the season (Gabe Oldham).
• Maleng finished in double figures for the first time in his NCAA career.
• Maleng finished with double-digit rebounds for the first time in his NCAA career.
• Zane Nelson made his first start in a Denver uniform on Tuesday, and the 59^th start of his NCAA career.

UP NEXT:
Denver will return to the road for the final two games of the non-conference slate, beginning on Saturday with a trip to Northern Colorado. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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