DENVER – When MSU Denver raced out to a 21-point first half lead Tuesday against a team from what is called the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, a team that was playing its fourth game in six days, was two time zones from home and was coming off a 60-point loss to one of the Roadrunners' league rivals, well, that was expected.
 
But when Maine-Fort Kent crept within 39-31 at halftime on the strength of seven 3-pointers, that wasn't part of the script.
 
"It wasn't good," MSU Denver guard Ghage Kenan said, smiling while recalling the team's halftime conversation. "Coach was on us a little bit. He told us to play harder and step up on defense. He preaches defense. Good things happen when we play defense.
 
"When we started playing defense for real, the game turned our way. Offense was created by our defense."
 
MSU Denver (4-0) held the Bengals (2-8) to 27.8 percent from the field in the second half – including 0 of 8 from 3 – and eventually cruised to an 89-52 victory in a getaway-day afternoon contest at the Auraria Event Center.
 
"Obviously that was probably the worst half we've played," wing Isaac Lungren said. "But we regrouped as a team at halftime. We knew what we had to do, and we did it. We went out and played defense and got stops, and then offense takes cares of itself when we play defense."
 
Said coach Michael Bahl: "When you play 11 guys in the first half, it's hard to get a rhythm. These games are hard to play. Give credit to Fort Kent. They weren't afraid. They came out with nothing to lose, they played hard and they were competitive. And that's exactly what we were looking for.
 
"I was a little disappointed with the lapses in our energy. But no excuses, Maine-Fort Kent did a good job in the first half and made it a game for us."
 
Laolu Oke and Miles Gibson once again contributed a double dose of double-doubles: Oke had 22 points on 11 of 12 shooting and added 13 rebounds in only 22 minutes, while Gibson got his 22 points and 11 rebounds in only 18 minutes while making 11 of 16.
 
For Oke, that is eight straight double-doubles dating to the end of last season, extending his school record.
 
And, on a day when the Roadrunners had a chance to give added minutes to reserves while building depth, it appeared – for a while maybe – that beyond Oke and Gibson, they can also rely on Kenan – all 5-foot-9 of him – for rebounds.
 
On this day he grabbed seven boards – four on the offensive end – despite being easily the smallest player on the Roadrunners' roster.
 
"I just do whatever I can to help my team win," Kenan said. "Whatever they need me to do, I will. I saw some opportunities to chase down rebounds, so I just did it."
 
We're just kidding, of course, about Kenan being a long-term rebounding solution. But he got an extended opportunity with 21 minutes of action Tuesday, and he made the most of it.
 
"I mean this in a good way, he's just a pit bull out there," Bahl said. "He's got a chip on his shoulder, and he uses it in a good way. He's been counted out a lot just because of his size. He's done a phenomenal job of persevering.
 
"He's going to be a really good player for is. He is a really good player for us. It was good for him and some other guys to get some minutes today to show what they can do, because we have a lot of good players."
 
Said Kenan: "Whatever coach needs me to do, I'm going to go out and do. I'm not sweating minutes. If my teammates are doing well, I'm happy for them. I just want to win. Whatever the team needs, I'm going to do it. I'm all about winning. When he puts me in, I'm going to do what I can do to help. And if I'm on the bench, I'm going to do what I can to help there, too."
 
Also showing well were Lungren, who the sharpshooter who started to break out of his early slump by knocking down four 3s, backup forward Jake Chrisman, who had eight points and five rebounds, and veteran sharpshooter Chris Simpson, who hit two 3s while scoring a career-best eight points.
 
"My teammates have a lot of confidence in me to shoot the ball, and we're a really good shooting team," Lungren said. "We knew the ball was going to go in eventually. And just to see the ball go in, it's super helpful. I got some shots to fall, so did Chris and Jake and Ty (Randall). We have a bunch of guys who can shoot and make shots."
 
Said Bahl: "We're still a better shooting team than we showed today. We had a lot of good looks. But we have total confidence with Isaac and Chris and Tyrei. Those are good shots for them. You never want to second-guess those shots for those guys, and if they shoot 30 of them, then they shoot 30 of them. When I watch the film, I'll bet 95 percent of them were the right ones. You have to shoot those."
 
So, after a slightly too-close-for-comfort first half, the result was about what was expected.
 
"Teams like this, they don't have a lot to lose," Lungren said. "And credit to them. They played well, they hit tough shots, and they're college basketball players. But we weathered the storm, and we won the game."