The basketball team had its home winning streak snapped Thursday night after a heartbreaking loss to Western Kentucky, the top ranked team in the Sun Belt Conference.

DU held the fourth longest record for consecutive home wins in the nation, with 16 straight home wins stretching back to last season.

The final score was 71-70 after DU missed several tip-ins in the waning seconds of the game.

“Our guys fought. They really competed hard to get ourselves back in the game,” Head Coach Terry Carroll commented. “We got the shot and everything we wanted down the stretch, with the opportunity to win but tonight the ball just didn’t go in.”

Denver’s Yemi Nicholson had another amazing performance with 17 rebounds, 28 total points with 10-11 from the line and 9-19 from the field, he also had 7 blocked shots in 38 minutes of play.

DaShawn Walker was also on fire, shooting 7-11 from the field with 5-5 for three and 2-2 from the line for a total of 21 points.

DU outplayed Western Kentucky on every level except on the offensive glass and in turnovers.

“Way too many turnovers for us. We gave them too many second chances off offensive rebounds,” said Nicholson after the game.

In looking toward the road, where the Pioneers have struggled this season, Carroll said, “We’ve got to get out their and play with the same intensity and the same confidence that we have at home.”

Nicholson added, “We really just have to do two things, stop turning the ball over and stop giving them offensive rebounds, and I think if we do that we will be on a very great role.”

On Saturday night Denver faced Middle Tennessee and recorded just its second road win of the season.

Yet the team did so without improving its turnover numbers or the opposing team’s offensive rebounds.

However, the Pioneers did win 72-62. They held Middle Tennessee to 32.8 percent from the field and Denver recorded a 61.9 percent average from the field with 60.0 percent from 3-point range.

DU will next face Northern Colorado tomorrow in Magness Arena.