The “Pack the House” promotion for the University of Denver’s men’s and women’s basketball teams was not as successful as sponsors had hoped.

Although the event set a basketball attendance record of 4,779, the ticket sales fell short of selling out Magness Arena. Fans consisted of DU students and local families with children.

The event was organized by the AUSA Senate and the Department of Recreation and Athletics to promote school spirit.

The hope was to fill every seat in Magness Arena. For that reason, tickets were only $2 and included a free Pepsi and a chance to win one of two Toyotas and other prizes, such as free T-shirts, gift certificates and Winter Park ski tickets.

Between the two teams the Pioneers managed only one win. The women’s team lost to North Texas by a score of 90 to 81, despite a passionate 28-point performance by conference play points leader Tasha Jones.

The men were more successful in their efforts, finally snapping their seven-game losing streak with a 90-84 win against the North Texas men’s team.

After losing their first half lead, the Pioneer women’s team could not put itself ahead again and found itself trailing in the final minutes.

Jones’ hot shooting was not enough to bring the Pioneers back from their late game deficit. The Eagles were led in scoring by Kim Blanton, who scored 25 points.

In the final minutes, Jones, Nicky Eason and Ashley Atckinson hit key, shots, but it was the needed stops that the Pioneers couldn’t make that decided the game. All DU could do was watch the Eagles hit free throw after free throw to close out the game.

The Pioneer men, on the other hand, played strongly for the full 50 minutes for the first time in the last seven games, keeping themselves either in the lead or within striking distance for the entire game.

The Pioneers led for most of the first half, then widened the lead in the second half.

The Pioneers were led by center Brett Starkey and forward Carvell Mcalister, who scored 29 and 21 points, respectively, and each pulled down 11 rebounds.

The men’s team plays South Alabama Saturday at 7 p.m. in Magness Arena. The women’s team will play a rematch against New Orleans Thursday at 12 p.m. in New Orleans.