DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program returns to Hamilton Gymnasium on Thursday night when the Pioneers welcome South Dakota State to the Mile High City. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on Altitude 2, the Summit League Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3.
 
Fans are encouraged to wear Crimson to Hamilton Gymnasium on Thursday night for the Pioneers annual Crimson Out.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
South Dakota State holds a 26-8 advantage in the all-time series, including 25-7 since the Pioneers moved up to Division I in 1998-99. The Pioneers are 6-8 against SDSU in the Mile High City, having won each of the last two meetings between the two programs inside Hamilton Gymnasium. FULL DI HISTORY
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver completed its first sweep of the state of North Dakota when the Pioneers earned a 98-79 road win over UND on Saturday afternoon in Grand Forks. Three Pioneers finished with 20+ for the second time this season. FULL RECAP
 
DENVER BREAKS PROGRAM ROAD SCORING RECORD IN ROUT OF NORTH DAKOTA
DU scored 98 points for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon, its most in a road game in its Division I history, and tied for the fifth-most overall.
Denver had five players finish in double figures for the 41st time in the program's history and the fourth time this season, including the third time in conference play.
Denver had three different players finish in double figures for the second time this season and the fifth time in the program's Division I history.
The Pioneers are the 13th team in the country to have at least three players finish with 20+ points in a game at least twice this season.
Denver shot 58.3% from the field, shooting above 55% from the floor for the first time in conference play this season.
 
20+ POINT SCORING NIGHTS
Sophomore Carson Johnson leads the Pioneers with 14 games with 20+ points this season, including six of the last seven. Johnson is tied for 10th in the country in most 20+ point games this season (stathead).
Graduate student Jeremiah Burke has 9 20+ point games this season, tying him for 102nd in the country in the category (statehead).
Denver had three players finish with 20+ in its win over Oral Roberts on January 14. Carson Johnson scored 33 and Zane Nelson and Jeremiah Burke had 20 apiece.
That win marked the first game Denver had three players finish with 20+ in regulation since December 20, 2021 against Western Illinois (KJ Hunt - 22, Touko Tainamo - 21, Jordan Johnson - 21).
The Pioneers achieved that feat again in a 98-79 win over North Dakota on February 7, 2026 when Johnson (22), Burke (20) and Logan Kinsey (20) all finished with 20 apiece.
The Feb. 7 occurrence was the first time Denver had three players score 20+ on the road since Marcus Byrd, Nate Engesser and Thomas Neff scored 20+ at Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 13, 2016.
Denver has had three players finish with 20+ in a game five times in its Division I history.
 
SOMETHING IS BREWING IN HAMILTON
Since turning Division I in 1998-99, the Pioneers are 56-42 in Hamilton Gymnasium.
Denver has played in Hamilton full-time since the 2020-21 campaign.
2023-24 marked the first double-digit win season in Hamilton (10-4).
Denver finished 8-6 at home in 2024-25 season.
1,456 came to Denver's home opener against UTSA on November 15, the largest Denver crowd since the 2021-22 home opener (1,607).
Denver's game against NDSU in Hamilton was played in-front of 1839, the second-biggest basketball crowd in the history of Hamilton Gymnasium, and the biggest since the facility's only basketball sellout on January 27, 2007 vs. Western Kentucky (2665).
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Denver has six road wins this year, its most since 2016-17.
The Pioneers have road wins against teams that are a combined 47-17 at home vs. the rest of their schedule.
Denver has won three-straight Summit League road games for the first time since joining the Summit League in 2013-14.
The stretch marks the first three-game road winning streak overall since November 18-December 1, 2022 (Idaho St., New Orleans, HCU).
 
OLDHAM LEADS THE COUNTRY IN EFFECTIVE FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE
Gabe Oldham entered the week as the top ranked player in the country in effective FG% at 75.0% (Ken Pom), 0.6 points higher than the next closest player (Aidan Kehoe - Navy).
Oldham shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the field on January 10 vs. South Dakota, making him the 11th player in the country this year to produce a 20-point double-double (pts/rbs) and shoot perfect from the field (Stathead).
 
SPREADING THE SCORING
In Denver's January 31 date with Omaha, Denver had four different players finish with 18+ points. Zane Nelson and Carson Johnson scored 19, while Jeremiah Burke and Logan Kinsey added 18.
The game marked the second time in Denver's DI history that Denver has had four players finish with 18+ points, matching Denver's four 18+ scorers on November 29, 2017 against Wyoming.
In the 2017 date, Daniel Amigo led the Pioneers to a win over their northern neighbors with 22. Jake Holtzmann had 20 off the bench, Jake Pemberton had 19 and Joe Rosga scored 18.
4 players with 18+ points in a game ties for the most in the country this season, a stat reached nine times this season.
Last time out the Pioneers had five players finish in double figures in DU's win at North Dakota, the fourth time this season and the 41st time DU has had five score 10+ in program history.
 
HOT-SHOOTING PIOS
Denver is currently ranked 41st in the country and second in the Summit League in effective field-goal percentage, entering the game at 55.7%.
The Pioneers are also 20th in the country and first in the league in free-throw percentage (77.4) and 23rd in the country and first in the Summit League in three-point percentage (37.9).
Denver leads the league and is 40th in the country in scoring offense at 83.7 points per game.
 
UP NEXT:
Denver hits the road to Omaha on Sunday for a national TV date. The Pioneers and Mavs will tipoff on CBS Sports Network at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday.
 
TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
 
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