The DU men’s basketball team defeated another conference competitor, University of New Orleans, at home on Saturday afternoon, 59-49, to strengthen their home record to 10-2.
Denver (11-14, 6-8 SBC) was defeated on the road by New Orleans (10-16, 5-10 SBC) back in January but led the entire game in Mangess Arena.
“It was a home game, league play at home, you know they can’t come here and feel like they have our number,” said head coach Joe Scott. “It was a big game not because of Sun Belt standings and the tournament but it was a big game because we haven’t beaten this team in awhile and they have been coming into our building and beating us and we responded.”
Before Denver’s win on Saturday, UNO had won the last seven meetings between the two teams.
The Pioneers continued shooting three-pointers on the offensive end and made five of them, compared to the Privateer’s zero.
Going into halftime, DU led New Orleans by a comfortable margin of 11 points.
“You know they are a pretty good team and we lost to them at New Orleans so we knew we had to come out and play well,” said forward Rob Lewis. “They are right at the same place as us in the standings, so it was a big win.”
Sophomore Lewis was a key player, contributing 20 points and six rebounds. Also adding double digits in scoring to the Pioneers’ victory were freshmen Brian Stafford and Andrew Hooper, with 10 and 11 points, respectively.
Senior Nate Rohnert led the team with four steals, six rebounds, 10 points and nine assists.
“It is weird being a sophomore and kind of being a leader. I’m doing whatever I can, learning from this guy, Nate Rohnert,” said Lewis of leading the team in scoring against UNO.
Sabatino Chen contributed to the win with five rebounds in only 14 minutes of playing time.
Even though the Privateers had a better shooting percentage, 47.6 percent, to the Pioneers 37.7 percent, Denver capitalized on New Orleans 12 turnovers.
“It was a big game for us, just to see us respond and it was a big game for us because it was a home game,” Scott said.
Since Scott joined Denver as head coach, the team has improved its record to 18-5 in Magness Arena.
However, the Pioneers have not had the same luck on the road, losing their 43rd consecutive away game against Florida Atlantic University last Thursday evening, with a score of 67-61.
The Florida Atlantic Owl’s (6-20, 2-13 SBC) are ranked last in the Sun Belt Conference but somehow the Pioneers couldn’t come out on top.
“We didn’t play well the other night, on Thursday, on the road. Our defense was bad in every factor and that is all we talked about, and we concentrated on that,” Scott said. “That was the worst we played in about two months and did it without treating the basketball that well.”
Despite the loss, Stafford led the Pioneers with 17 points, Rohnert had 15, Hooper chipped in 13 and Lewis added 10.
The Owls went 20-for-22 from the free throw line, while DU only shot 4-for-7 from the line. Lewis had the only three blocks for Denver but led the team in rebounds with nine.
“That is the million dollar question I don’t know we are going to keep doing what we are doing, playing hard. I mean we are obviously able to beat these teams at home so we are going to try to do what we’re doing at home and keep our sights on the road,” Lewis said of why they just cannot notch a win on the road.
The Pioneers will face two more teams at home and away before the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament begins on March 4.
Denver needs to get at least the eighth place seed to play the first round of the tournament in Magness.
“I think we are playing well right now and we are just working for a home game for that first round [of the Sun Belt conference tournament] and if we can do that, I think we have a good chance no matter who we draw,” Lewis said.
Denver will take on University of Louisianna-Lafayette this Thursday at 7 p.m. in Magness.
