DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program will open up a two-game road swing in the state of North Dakota with a trip to UND on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on the Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3.

LAST TIME OUT:
Denver led St. Thomas for 33:14, but the Tommies made the plays they needed to down the stretch to secure a three-point win in Hamilton Gymnasium last Saturday. Four Pios finished in double figures, led by Sebastian Akins, who had 19. FULL RECAP 

SERIES HISTORY:
North Dakota holds an 11-6 edge in the overall series, including a 10-4 advantage since the Pioneers turned Division I ahead of the 1998-99 season. UND is 4-1 in Grand Forks during the Pios DI era. FULL DI HISTORY 

SPREADING THE SCORING

• Denver had six players score in double figures and no one score more than 15 in Denver's 97-80 win over Western Colorado on Nov. 8.
• DeAndre Craig led the Pios with 15, Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente scored 13, Sebastian Akins added 12 and Nicholas Shogbonyo, Isaiah Carr and Josh Lee all finished with 10.
• It was the first time Denver had 6 players in double figures since December 15, 2012 against Omaha.
• 12 years ago - Royce O'Neale had 17, Chase Hallam had 12, Chris Udofia scored 11, Brett Olson and Nate Engesser chipped in 11 and Cam Griffin scored 10.
• Isaiah Addo-Ankrah and Nicholas Shogbonyo combined for 40 of Denver's 68 points in its Big Sky/Summit League Challenge win at Portland State on December 7.
• The Pioneers had six players with at least seven points in that 21-point win over Sacramento State in the first game of the challenge on December 4.
• DU also had six players with at least seven points in a 94-87 win over UCCS on December 10.
• Last time out, Denver had four players finish in double figures and one with nine in a three-point loss to St. Thomas.

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.
• After missing three-straight games with an injury, Craig returned to the lineup on January 18 at St. Thomas.
• Craig ranks third in the Summit League and 116th in the country in field goal percentage, shooting 49.6% from the field.
• Craig had a four-point sequence that included an intentionally missed free-throw and a three-point play in Denver's dramatic win over Kansas City on January 30.

AKINS DEBUT SEASON

• 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 enters the game with 314 points, the 8th most by a Pioneer in their true freshman season in DU's DI history.
• Akins has 15+ points in eight games this season, including three 20+ point games and a 19-point game vs. St. Thomas (2/8).
• Akins had the game-winning assist to Abdulai Fanta Kabba in Denver's 70-68 win at ORU on January 23.

SHOGBONYO LEADING THE PIOS IN YEAR 1

• 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.
• Second on DU in scoring at 13.3 points per game, while pulling in 4.6 boards (2nd among active players) and just under 2 assists per game.
• Shogbonyo has had 15+ points in 14 games.
• Shogbonyo is 82nd in the country and fourth in the Summit League in free-throw makes with 102.
• Shogbonyo's 102 free-throw makes this season is good for 10th in Denver's single-season record book.
• Shogbonyo recorded his first career double-double (13-12rbs) at South Dakota on January 4.

ADDO-ANKRAH DIALING LONG DISTANCE

• Three-point sharp-shooter Isaiah Addo-Ankrah leads the Pioneers with 48 made triples on 116 attempts, good for 41.4% from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will make their annual North Dakota trip next week, starting with a Thursday night date with UND. Opening tip is set for 6 p.m. MT on the Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3.

TICKETS:
Get tickets for the 2024-25 season by clicking here.

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