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The Denver Pioneers lost a tough game to Louisiana-Lafayette, which received a bit of help from the referees.
The Denver Pioneers (16-6, 6-3 Sun Belt) continue their farewell tour of the Sun Belt Conference as they take on the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (12-11, 6-3) Thursday night. With just a few weeks of regular season college basketball remaining, the Pioneers basketball teams is now games away from its final Sun Belt games before joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) for the 2012-13 season.
After their 57-64 loss to the Ark.-Little Rock Trojans (10-13, 7-2), the Pioneers sit in second place in the Sun Belt West Division, looking to separate themselves from the Ragin Cajuns and the North Texas Mean Green (13-9, 6-3), all tied at 6-3.
The Pioneers have been led this season by senior G Brian Stafford (14.8 points per game and a .478 three-point field goal percentage) and sophomore F Chris Udofia (14.2 PPG and 5.3 rebounds per game). The duo will need to play their best to control the ball with G Josh Brown (6.3 RPG), F Darshawn McClellan (5.7 RPG) and F J.J. Thomas (5.6 RPG) crowding the paint.
Gametime: 6:00 PM MST, Feb. 2
Television: none
Radio: AM 1510, FM 93.7
Web: Pioneers homepage
For more info on the 2011-2012 college basketball season, head over to the SB Nation College Basketball news hub. And be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for Pioneers updates, previews and recaps.
Denver Vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Final Score: Pioneers Lose 72-71 In Overtime On Last-Second Free Throw
The Denver Pioneers lost in agonizing fashion on Thursday night, being defeating 72-71 in overtime by the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. With the two teams struggling to get baskets in overtime, a Denver turnover with five seconds left in the game led to a foul on Louisiana Lafayette's Elfrid Payton, who knocked down a free throw with one second remaining to take the victory.
After the two teams traded baskets for most of the second half, neither team managed to score in the final 90 seconds of regulation. Those offensive issues continued for both teams in overtime, as Denver had a 4-2 advantage in the period's first four minutes and 40 seconds. A layup by Payton followed by a Pioneers turnover and another impressive drive to the hoop by Payton were enough to swing that advantage in the other direction.
Royce O'Neale came off the bench to lead Denver with a double-double, putting up 21 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Udofia, Rob Lewis and Brett Olson all scored in the double-digits for the Pioneers, as well. Louisiana-Lafayette got 21 points and 10 rebounds from Josh Brown, with Payton adding 20 points off the bench.
For more info on the 2011-2012 college basketball season, head over to the SB NationCollege Basketball news hub. And be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for Pioneers updates, previews and recaps.
Feb 02 8:27p by Satchel Price