Putting an end to a dismal season, in which the Pioneers won only four games, the DU men’s basketball team lost in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to the University of Louisiana- Monroe Warhawks 83-67 in Monroe, La. Wednesday night.
The Pioneers had an up and down first half of the game, scoring the first bucket of the game on a 3-point shot by junior Adam Tanner.
However, the Pioneers couldn’t keep pace with ULM’s offensive attack and trailed 42-34 heading into halftime.
After giving a valiant effort throughout the second half, in which the Pioneers were able to get within four points of ULM, the Warhawks began to pull away.
Sophomore guard Joe Jackson led the Pioneers with a team-high 16 points and Tanner chipped 10 points and nine rebounds.
It was a difficult final game for the DU seniors, as team leading scorer DaShawn Walker, Antonio Porch and Alex Cox combined for only 24 points.
The Pioneers finished the season with a 4-25 record, 3-16 in the SBC, which is their worst record since becoming a Division I team in the 1999-2000 season, when the Pioneers won six games.
Despite the rough season, Walker and Porch both finished their careers with impressive credentials.
Walker, who transferred to the Pioneers last season from Indian Hills C.C. in Iowa, finished his DU career with 819 points and 264 rebounds. He also ranks ninth all-time on the Pioneer 3-point shots made list with 133 and seventh in free throw percentage at 81.6 percent.
Porch, a four year letter winner for the Pioneers, completed his career as a Pioneer with 1,035 points and 530 rebounds, as well as finishing sixth all-time in gmes played with 114 and fifth in free throw percentage (82.9).
The Pioneer team will have a different look at the start of next season, as DU athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes is currently interviewing candidates for the Head Coaching position.
The job is open now that Bradley-Doppes announced that former Head Coach Terry Carroll, who took an indefinite leave of absence at mid-season this year, will not be returning to lead the Pioneers. Carroll posted a 79-99 record during his six seasons with DU.
The Pioneers will hope to improve on this season’s disappointing year when they get back into action next fall.
