The Denver Pioneers, led by Carson Johnson's 32 points, put on a show at Hamilton Gymnasium, defeating the South Dakota Coyotes 90-70 in a game that saw Denver's offense click on all cylinders, scoring 53 points in the second half alone, a stark contrast to their 37-point first half. Denver's recent trend of averaging 82.6 points per game over their last 5 contests continued, as they shot 55% from the field, including 8 three-pointers, with Johnson accounting for 4 of those. South Dakota, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, scoring just 34 points in the first half and 36 in the second, with their leading scorer, Cameron Fens, managing 22 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Denver's high-powered offense. Over their last 5 games, South Dakota has averaged 76.4 points per game, but their defense has been a concern, allowing 74.4 points per contest, a trend that continued tonight.
As the game wore on, Denver's lead continued to grow, with their largest margin reaching 25 points with just over 5 minutes remaining in the game. South Dakota's recent form has been inconsistent, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, including a loss to North Dakota and a narrow win over South Dakota State. Denver, on the other hand, has been trending upwards, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, including wins over South Dakota State and North Dakota. The Pioneers' ability to score in bunches, with 10 different players contributing to their total, made it difficult for South Dakota to mount a comeback, as they were outscored by 17 points in the second half. Denver's bench also outscored South Dakota's 23-15, with Logan Kinsey and Josh Lee combining for 26 points.
Denver's Carson Johnson Scores 32 Points, Including 4 Three-Pointers
Carson Johnson's performance was the highlight of the evening, as he hit 12 of his 18 field goal attempts, including 4 three-pointers, and added 4 rebounds and 2 assists to his stat line. Johnson's ability to score from both inside and outside the arc made him nearly unstoppable, as he accounted for 35.6% of Denver's total points. Logan Kinsey also had a solid game, scoring 16 points and grabbing 5 rebounds, while Josh Lee added 10 points off the bench. For South Dakota, Cameron Fens' double-double was a bright spot, but Vince Buzelis' 19 points were not enough to overcome Denver's balanced attack. Buzelis shot just 7-17 from the field, including 2-7 from three-point range, and committed 3 turnovers, highlighting the struggles of South Dakota's offense.
The CHD Scout prediction of a 8.2-point Denver victory seemed modest in hindsight, as the Pioneers dominated from start to finish.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The prediction model correctly identified Denver as the favorite, and the actual margin of 20 points exceeded the predicted spread. This can be attributed to Denver's ability to capitalize on South Dakota's defensive weaknesses, particularly in the paint, where they outscored the Coyotes 40-24. Denver's offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders of late, averaging 82.6 points per game over their last 5 contests, was too much for South Dakota to handle. The model also took into account Denver's recent trend of outscoring opponents by 7.0 points per game, which continued tonight.
As the season enters its final stretch, games like this can have a significant impact on a team's tournament resume.
For Denver, the win improves their NET ranking to 233, and with a quad 4 game, it's a valuable addition to their resume. The Pioneers now have 7 wins against quad 1 and 2 opponents, and their strength of schedule ranks 137th in the country. While they are still a long shot to make the tournament, this win keeps them in the conversation. For South Dakota, the loss drops them to 277 in the NET rankings, and with a quad 3 game, it's a missed opportunity to improve their resume. The Coyotes now have just 2 wins against quad 1 and 2 opponents, and their strength of schedule ranks 201st in the country. With just a few games remaining, South Dakota must win out to have any chance of making the tournament.
The outcome of this game was never really in doubt, as Denver's offense was too potent and their defense was able to contain South Dakota's attack. With 5 minutes remaining in the game, Denver led by 25 points, and the Coyotes were unable to mount a comeback. The Pioneers' ability to close out games has been a strength all season, with 10 of their 14 wins coming by 10 or more points. As the season enters its final stretch, Denver want to build on this momentum, while South Dakota must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the tournament. Denver's recent form, combined with their strong performance tonight, makes them a team to watch in the coming weeks. With 3 of their final 5 games coming against quad 1 and 2 opponents, the Pioneers have a chance to make a statement and improve their tournament chances.