MONROE, La. (AP) -Brian Stafford scored 29 points and Denver defeated Louisiana-Monroe 66-57 on Thursday night.
The Pioneers (14-4, 9-8 Sun Belt Conference) led by as many as 15 points, 47-32, on a Stafford layup with 9:48 remaining.
The game was tied at 16 with 7:34 to play in the first half before Denver went on a 10-3 spurt to lead the rest of the way. Stafford capped the run on a 3-pointer with 3:49 left in the half.
Rob Lewis scored 11 points and Nate Rohnert added 10 for the Pioneers, who clinched a first-round home game in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday.
Dynile Forbes and Malcolm Thomas scored 24 each for the Warhawks (9-19, 5-12).
Denver shot 47.8 percent form the field (22 of 46) and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Louisiana-Monroe shot 28.6 percent from the field (12 of 42).
