In Saturday’s matchup, DU faced off against South Dakota State in a showdown primarily between the guards Tommy Bruner (DU) and Zeke Mayo (SDSU). Bruner led the Crimson and Gold with an impressive 26 points and six assists, while SDSU’s Mayo closely followed with 19 points and three assists.
“(Mayo’s) a premier player in our conference and in college basketball. We tried to force the ball out of his hand and double-team him. At the end of the day, we wanted him to take fewer shots than in other games. We beat a really good basketball team,” Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun said.
Bruner maintains his position as the highest point scorer in the NCAA and the leader in assists in the Summit League with the performance against the Jackrabbits.
“He’s been at the top of other teams’ scouting reports. He’s just such a good player; I feel like a lot of people don’t understand what level he’s really at. They’re seeing someone special,” Wulbrun said.
Bruner’s contributions played a pivotal role in the 99-80 victory over the Jackrabbits. This marked Denver’s highest-scoring game since 2001 when Terry Carroll was the head coach, concluding the year with an 8-20 record.
The Crimson and Gold maintained their lead for the majority of the game, briefly losing it early in the second half. Defensively, DU stifled South Dakota with key charges from Touko Tainamo and Isaiah Carr, officially securing the lead later in the second half.
Junior forward Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente displayed an exceptional performance, shooting 71% from three and 75% from the field. This game marked his highest-scoring performance of his career, surpassing his previous best by 15 points and showcasing him as a confident shooter.
The team now stands 2-1 in conference play, tying them for first place in the Summit League, and sitting 11-7 overall.
The win handed the Jackrabbits their first loss in conference play this season. The Crimson and Gold now set their sights on North Dakota for two upcoming games against North Dakota and North Dakota State, with the action starting on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
