DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball team led nearly wire to wire in a 78-62 victory over South Dakota State in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon inside Hamilton Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (11-20, 5-11) had four players score in double figures, led by Sebastian Akins, who had 17 points. DeAndre Craig added 16 points and Isaiah Addo-Ankrah chipped in as well with 12 points and two steals.

The Denver offense was very productive from downtown, knocking down 11 threes on 29 attempts. Addo-Ankrah was the most prolific shooter for the Pioneers, draining four treys in the contest.

Denver forced 17 South Dakota State turnovers while committing 10 themselves in Saturday's game. The Pioneers turned those takeaways into 28 points on the other end of the floor. Jon Mani's four steals led the way for Denver.

NOTES:

• Denver improved to 8-6 at home this season to earn win number 50 for the program inside Hamilton Gymnasium (50-38).
• The Pioneers were at full health for the third time this season, improving to 2-1 in those three games.
• Denver finished with 12 steals on Saturday afternoon, the Pioneers first game into double digits in that category since the game at SDSU to open conference play on January 2.
• DU had four players finish in double figures.
• DeAndre Craig finished with 16 points and 3 assists.
• Craig finished in double figures for the 10^th-straight game, the 22^nd time this season and the 33^rd time in his two-year Pioneer career.
• Josh Pickett finished with 11 points.
• Pickett finished in double figures for the fourth time this season.
• Sebastian Akins finished with 17 points, and 2 assists.
• Akins finished in double figures for the 21^st time in his freshman campaign.
• Akins extended his freshman scoring record to 396.
• Isaiah Addo-Ankrah finished with 12 points and 3 rebounds.
• Addo-Ankrah finished in double figures for the 10^th time this season and the 26^th time in his collegiate career.  
• Jon Mani finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals.
• Mani's rebound and steals totals were both career highs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Pios raced out to an 8-0 start, thanks to a pair of triples from graduate student Isaiah Addo-Ankrah. South Dakota State cut into the deficit and took a brief lead, but the Pioneers were able to push their lead back out to as many as 10 before taking a nine-point lead back into the locker room. Sebastian Akins led the Pios with eight, and seven different Pioneers had at least five points in the first half.

Following intermission, Denver kept widening that lead, expanding it to 57-47 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Addo-Ankrah's three, to grow the lead to 64-47 with 11:24 to go in the contest. The Pioneers cruised the rest of the way for the 78-62 win. Denver capitalized on nine South Dakota State turnovers in the period, collecting 10 points off those turnovers.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

UP NEXT:
Denver will find out its Summit League Tournament draw after all the games have been completed later on Saturday night.

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