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OUAZ Athletics

Kolten Hitt - November 12, 2021
Richard Martinez
72
Winner OUAZ OUAZ Exhib.
71
Denver DU 1-1
Winner
OUAZ OUAZ
Exhib.
72
Final
71
Denver DU
1-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
OUAZ OUAZ 39 33 72
Denver DU 24 47 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Spirit Hold on to Win at NCAA D1 Denver

DENVER – While the stats don't count in the official records and the result doesn't affect the overall record, the 72-71 win by the OUAZ men's basketball team at Denver University on Friday night will leave a mark on the program.

Beating an NCAA Division I opponent on its home floor seemed like a dream as OUAZ went 5-23 during the 2018-19 season. Now, just over two seasons later, the Spirit has taken another step in building the program.

Getting the signature win wasn't going to be easy, and the Spirit made just enough plays to get it done. They fell behind 12-4 less than five minutes into the game before starting to get in a rhythm at both ends of the floor. OUAZ put together a 21-4 run over eight minutes, 37 seconds to build a 12 point lead that then turned into a 39-24 halftime advantage.

During the crucial run, OUAZ hit 9 of 17 shots while holding Denver (1-1) to 2 of 11 and forcing five turnovers. Kolten Hitt scored eight points during the spurt, including a pair of threes.

OUAZ kept the lead in double figures for most of the second half, even extending to as much as 17 with 13:18 remaining. The lead was 68-58 with 3:06 to play when the Pioneers began their comeback with a 10-2 run that had them within 70-68 with 32.2 seconds on the clock.

On the ensuing Spirit possession, Keshawn Bruner grabbed an offensive rebound that turned off the shot clock and forced the Pioneers into the foul game. When Hitt missed the front end of his one-and-one, Josiah De'laCerda snagged the offensive board and then calmly hit a pair of free throws to get the lead back to 72-68.

KJ Hunt hit a three at the other end for the Pioneers at 0.6 seconds, and they fouled Jayce Catchings with 0.4 seconds. Catchings missed his free throw, and the clock expired on the rebound sending the OUAZ players into celebration.

Hitt finished the night with 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting with three makes from beyond the arc. His contested three at the 7:54 mark of the second half – the only made three of the half by the Spirit – beat the shot clock and extended the lead back to double digits.

Kam Malbrough added 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds. He made 7 of 18 shots while also adding three assists and a blocked shot.

OUAZ shot 46.2 percent as a team with 40 points in the paint and 11 fast break points. They had a 36-30 edge in rebounds with 12 offensive rebounds resulting in 20 points. The Spirit held Denver to 45.0 percent shooting, and they forced the Pioneers into 15 turnovers.

Hunt led Denver with 23 points and four assists.

On Monday, the Spirit will be back in action when they host SAGU American Indian College in Faith Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets are available now at OUAZSpirit.com/tickets.
 
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