Dick Vitale, ESPN cameras and Aaron Wolfe, the man who missed the half-court shot to win tuition, were on hand to set a new Magness Arena record for fans and watch the Pioneers defeat the Wyoming Cowboys 63-62.
Despite not managing to fill every seat and essentially pack the house, 6,319 fans turned out to set a new Magness Arena record for a sports event.
Wolfe was selected from those who signed up behind section 14 during the first half. Wolfe walked onto the court, took the ball from Vitale and after dribbling a few times shot the ball into the air.
The shot had enough strength behind it to go the distance, but it went wide, bouncing off the bottom right side of the backboard.
As a consolation prize, Vitale announced that Wolfe could meet Chancellor Daniel L. Ritchie.
Going into the game, the Pioneers were 1.5 point favourites after defeating CSU for the first time in 24 years a few weeks earlier.
The Cowboys jumped out to the early lead, but DU quickly closed the door taking back the lead.
Wyoming went on a quick run to grab the lead again and hold it until the half. The Cowboys left the court with a 6-point lead, 32-26.
The Pioneers regained the lead about half way through the second half when Antonio Porch put the Pioneers ahead 41-40, creating a very close game that remained so down to the last few minutes. With about three minutes remaining in the game, the Pioneers took a 5-point lead when Zeljko Zupic hit a three-point shot.
Rodney Billups and Erik Benzel made clutch-free throws after repeatedly being fouled in the final minutes, giving the Pioneers the win by a single point.
The Pioneers improve to 8-4 on the season, while the Cowboys fall to 7-5.
While many may think this was the largest crowd to witness the men’s basketball, it was actually many more fans than have ever attended a hockey game at Magness Arena.
In January 2001, DU hosted Colorado College in a hockey game that drew 6,188 0.
While many of the fans may have turned out to win free tuition, there was an air of excitement rarely felt at DU basketball games.
Maybe it was the appearance of Dick Vitale or the chance to see DU’s new and improved all-female cheerleading squad.
It may also be that Head Coach Terry Carroll is slowly developing a men’s basketball team that has a chance to make the tournament, a team that will eventually expect that kind of crowd every home game.
Some students say that DU lacks school spirit when just the opposite occurred at the game.
If all it takes is a long range, low probability shot at a chance to win tuition for a year to strike spirit into the hearts of Pioneer fans then, maybe that should be attempted at other events.
“Enter to win a chance to swim a 50 underwater for a chance to win free tuition.”
