Denver 64, Seattle U 51
Since a season-opening loss in a tough road environment at La. Tech, Denver has found itself a little hot streak in the month of January.
The Pioneers won their first-ever game in the WAC on New Year’s Eve and haven’t lost since, including beating Idaho and Seattle U. on the road this past week.
After escaping a close test in Moscow, Denver had it a little easier at Key Arena, handing the bottom-dwelling Redhawks their fifth WAC loss in five games.
Five of the ten Seattle players that logged minutes scored two or less points and Clarence Trent was the only one to score in double digits (15).
Chase Hallam’s consecutive 3-pointers were clutch in the Idaho win and the long-range specialist went 5 of 8 from 3-point range en route to a game-high 17 points. Denver faces a tough test Saturday when unbeaten Utah State (14-1, 5-0) visits the Mile High City.
La. Tech 73, UT-San Antonio 71
The conference’s only other undefeated team produced some of the best action the WAC may see all season. Kenyon McNeail came off the bench early and his 34-point night concluded with a 3-pointer with 19 seconds that would give La. Tech the lead and ultimately the victory.
McNeail was 9 of 15 from 3-point range and 11 of 19 from the field, while Kannon Burrage nearly matched McNeail, scoring 29 points and going 9 of 9 from the free-throw line. Burrage is the conference’s second leading scorer with 17.4 points per game.
For the Bulldogs, McNeail’s effort was by far the best, as no starter scored more than seven points.
The La. Tech bench played 105 total minutes, compared to just 95 from the starters. The win marks the third consecutive for the Bulldogs, who beat the conference’s three Texas schools in back-to-back-to-back fashion.
UT-Arlington 91, Texas State 74
While UTSA and Texas State continue to struggle during their inaugural WAC season, combining for zero wins and 12 losses, UTA has managed to do a bit better, and that was evident Saturday in San Marcos when the Mavericks ensured that the Bobcats would remain winless.
All seven of Karol Gruszecki’s field goals were 3-pointers and the Polish senior led UTA with 23 points. Both teams made 12 3-point shots but the Bobcats shot just 50 percent from the charity stripe in their ninth consecutive loss.
Joel Wright led all players with 24 points and Deonte’ Jones had another 21, but nine Texas State players scored less than five points, and four of those went scoreless.
Theo Lawson can be reached at [email protected]