DENVER, Colo. - Nate Rohnert scored 17 points, Andrew Hooper added 16 and the Denver Pioneers beat Colorado State 66-55 on Saturday at Magness Arena.

Adam Nigon led the Rams with a season-high 11 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting, including one three-pointer.  Nigon, who fouled out with 3:30 remaining, entered Saturday's game with just six total points on the season.

Trailing by eight points at halftime (24-16), the Rams opened the second half by scoring nine straight points to take a 25-24 lead.  Denver, however, hit five of their first six three-pointers in second period to regain control of the game. 

Denver led by as many as 10 points midway through the second half, only to see the Rams rally to tie the game.

However, the Pioneers closed the contest out from the free throw line, hitting 15-of-19 over the final 3:45 to halt a four-game skid against Colorado State.

The Rams never got in a rhythm offensively in the first half as they committed nine turnovers in the opening period which Denver converted into six points.  The Rams were limited to just 5-22 (.227) shooting while the Pioneers shot .391 (9-23) with over half of their attempts (14) coming from beyond the arc.  Dan Vandervieren, holding a considerable size advantage inside against the smaller Pioneers, opened the scoring with four straight points for the Rams and CSU led 4-2 which turned out to be their only lead of the opening period. 

Denver led by five points on two occasions in the early going but the Rams tied the game at 13 thanks to a Willis Gardner layup off a Jesse Carr steal.  But Denver would score 11 of the final 14 points in the period and took their biggest lead of the first half (24-16) into the halftime break.  CSU’s 16 first half points marked a season-low for points in a half.        

The Rams will next be in action at the Outrigger Hotel Rainbow Classic hosted by the University of Hawaii.  CSU will take on the host Rainbow Warriors on Dec. 27, followed by two more games (Dec. 29 and 30) against teams to be determined.