Box Score DENVER ? The UALR men's basketball team (11-5, 3-2) suffered a 54-40 loss at the hands of Denver (7-9, 3-2) on Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena after shooting a season-low 28.2 percent from the field. The Trojans established season lows for points in a game and team field goal percentage, while committing 22 turnovers in the loss.
Denver led 28-18 at the half, and held the Trojans to just four field goals off a paltry 18.2 percent from the field (4-of-22) over the final 20 minutes. The Pioneers, meanwhile, shot 50.0 percent from the field in the second half and 47.5 percent for the game, and committed just 10 turnovers in the win.
Adam Tanner was one of three Pioneers to score in double figures, leading all players with 14 points, followed by Nate Rohnert and Kyle Lewis with 13 and 11 points, respectively. UALR did not have a player reach double figures in the loss, with junior John Fowler scoring a team-high nine points.
The Trojans did enjoy a +15 edge on the glass (34-to-19), led by a game-high seven rebounds from junior Lekheythan Malone.
UALR's 40-point performance marks its lowest point total since a 46-60 loss to McNeese State on Dec. 5, 2006. The Trojans also set season lows for shooting percentage (.282), field goals (11) and field goal attempts (39).
UALR trailed by 10 at the break, 28-18, after a quick first half in which just five fouls were called between the two teams (three against the Trojans). UALR enjoyed a 16-to-9 edge on the glass, but committed 11 turnovers to the Pioneers' two over the first 20 minutes.
Denver connected on three of its first four three-point attempts to jump out to an 11-3 lead at the onset of the game. UALR trailed by six points, 21-15, after senior Terrance Akins' second three pointer of the half at the 4:00 mark, but a quick 7-2 spurt by DU gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the half, 28-17.
Tanner, who led all scorers with eight points at the break, capped off the quick 7-2 run with a successful three-point conversion to put DU ahead by 11 points with 1:56 remaining. Tanner's foul shot at the 1:56 mark was the first free throw of the game by either team. UALR earned two trips to the charity stripe over the final 1:56, but made just 1-of-4 attempts to make it a 28-18 game at the half.
UALR scored the first four points of the second half to cut their deficit to six points, 28-22, but the Pioneers answered with an 11-0 run to take a 39-22 lead. Ronhert and Tanner combined for all 11 of DU's points during the run, putting the Pioneers ahead by 17 with 13:23 to go.
The Trojans never seriously threatened the rest of the way, as Denver led by at least 11 points for the remainder of the game.
UALR returns to action Thursday night, when it welcomes ULM to the Jack Stephens Center at 7:30 p.m.
