DENVER -- The Denver Pioneers hit a season-high 16 3-pointers en route
to a 76-57 victory over ULM Saturday afternoon inside Magness Arena.
Denver, in the midst of its best season since joining Division I,
finished the game shooting 55.3 percent from the field and went 16 of 34 from
3-point range. The Warhawks shot 47.6 percent from the field and put up a good
effort in the first half, but the Pioneers pulled away in the second half
behind its hot 3-point shooting.
Senior guard Fred Brown led the Warhawks with 15 points and two
assists, while sophomore Charles Winborne chipped in 14 points and sophomore
Marcelis Hansberry added 12 points.
Denver opened the second half on an 18-5 run that stretched the margin
to 56-34. Brian Stafford knocked home a 3 to cap the run at the 11:54 mark for
the Pioneers. Denver led by as many as 23 points.
Stafford led all scorers with 25 points, including six 3-pointers. He
finished an efficient 8 of 11 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw
line. Brett Olson was the only other Denver player in double figures with 15
points.
The Warhawks held Chris Udofia, the conference's leading scorer, to
just eight points.
With the game tied at 20, Denver took control with a 9-0 run to take
lead for good. Olson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to break the tie,
followed by a three-point play from Stafford with 7:11 to play in the half.
Royce O'Neale capped the run with a 3 at the 6:29 mark.
The Warhawks answered back with free throws from Winborne and
Hansberry, and a jumper from sophomore R.J. McCray to cut the lead to 29-24
with 4:13 before halftime.
Stafford hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Pioneers to extend the
lead back to nine at 35-26. Denver finished with 8 of 18 from deep in the first
half and led 37-29.
The Warhawks host Middle Tennessee Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for Senior
Night inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
