HOUSTON – Offensive basketball was on display Thursday evening in Sharp Gym as both HCU and Denver shot better than 50 percent from the floor with the Pioneers ultimately outlasting the Huskies, 93-83. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022.
Denver (7-1) made its first six field goal attempts and a pair of free throws for an early 15-6 lead in just 4:25 of game time. Consecutive layups put the Pioneers ahead by 10, their biggest lead of the half, at the 13:33 mark.
Sam Hofman answered with a three-pointer for the Huskies (1-7) and started a run of five consecutive three-pointers to answer a two-point possession by the Pioneers, pulling HCU to within three, 29-26, with 8:38 left in the half.
A minute and a half later, Tyree Corbett made a putback dunk to put DU ahead by six but
Brycen Long responded with his third three of the half just 11 seconds later to again get the Huskies within three, 34-31. The Pioneers pulled away a bit over the next few minutes, again leading by as many as 10 with less than three minutes to go but HCU fought back to within five with
Tristan Moore making a pair of shots for five points in the final 42 seconds for a 49-44 score at the break.
HCU came out strong to open the second half, forcing three Denver turnovers in the first four possessions and making its first four shot attempts, taking a 52-49 lead just over two minutes in. Denver responded with the game's next seven points, going back ahead by four.
DU led by six, 64-58, with 13:17 remaining but the Huskies again clawed their way back, evening the score at 71-71 on a pair of free throws by Long after a technical foul on the Pioneers' bench. In the ensuing minutes, Denver would twice take a four-point lead only to see HCU have an answer and tie the game with the second coming on a
Maks Klanjscek jumper at the 2:49 mark, making it an 81-81 ballgame. The final 2:49 was a matter of Denver making shots while the Huskies didn't as the Pioneers pulled away for the 10-point difference.
Denver finished the game shooting 67.3 percent (35-of-52) from the floor and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from behind the arc. The Huskies, meanwhile, shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the field and 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from long range. Both teams finished the night with 14 turnovers and Denver led the rebounding battle 28-24. The Pioneers did a majority of their damage in the paint with 52 points from close range.
Long tied his career-high in scoring with 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting overall while knocking down 6-of-13 from three and 4-of-4 from the foul line.
Andrew King ended the night with 11 points and four assists while Klanjscek added eight points and six assists.
Jason Thompson added five points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
The Huskies next host Southwestern Adventist on Sunday, Dec. 4, afternoon in Sharp Gym at 2:00 p.m.
