DENVER - University of Denver sophomore guard Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored 18 points and dished out four assists, leading the Pioneers to their seventh-straight victory with a 68-57 win over the Utah State Aggies at Magness Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) scored 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting for Denver (11-7, 7-1 WAC). Junior forward Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) added 13 points, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Freshman Jalen Love (Wichita, Kan.) rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.
"We are playing well. The guys know the game plan. We took care of the ball and took good shots," head coach Joe Scott said. "I've seen that type of performance over the course of the past five weeks. We've been consistent, and that's what we're looking for. We're looking for the same effort on offense and defense every game, and that's what we saw tonight."
The Pioneers shot 56.5 percent (26-for-46) from the field and 52.6 percent (10-for-19) from beyond the arc. The Aggies (14-3, 5-2 WAC) shot 47.1 percent (16-of-34) from the floor and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from beyond the arc.
The Crimson and Gold had a season low three turnovers, while forcing 15 Aggie turnovers and were able to outscore the Aggies 17-2 in points off of turnovers.
With DU leading 19-12, the Pioneers used a 13-6 run to open a 14 point lead at 32-18. The first half featured torrid three-point shooting, as Denver shot 63.6 percent (7-for-11) and Utah State shot 71.4 (5-for-7). During one stretch in the first half, eight-straight field goals were three-pointers, four from each team.
The Pioneers did not have a single turnover in the first half - the first time Denver went a half without a turnover since the second half at Montana State on December 20, 2003. The Crimson and Gold forced seven Aggie turnovers in the first half.
Denver opened the second half on a 17-5 run to open up its biggest lead of the game at 53-31 with 12:06 remaining, and Utah State was never able to pull closer than 10 points after that.
Utah State played without leading scorer and Preseason WAC Player of the Year Preston Medlin and third-leading scorer Kyisean Reed, who both suffered injuries on Thursday night at New Mexico State.
Denver heads back on the road to face New Mexico State at 9 p.m. MT. The game will air live on ESPNU.
Visit denverpioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's Division I athletic programs.
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