GAME NOTES: The Idaho State Bengals try to bounce back from a disappointing season opener as they clash with the Denver Pioneers in non-conference action at Magness Arena on Sunday.

The Bengals, who are on the road for three straight games to open the schedule before heading back to Pocatello to host three consecutive contests, began the 2014-15 campaign with an ugly 79-55 defeat at the hands of the New Mexico Lobos in non-conference action in The Pit.

As for the Pioneers, this is their first outing of the new season. Sporting a record of 60-50 all-time in season openers, Denver is just 6-10 since returning to the Division I ranks, and is 2-5 in such contests under the direction of head coach Joe Scott.

Denver is coming off a 2013-14 campaign in which it finished 16-15 overall and was 8-6 in league action. The team started off slow by losing four straight out of the gate.

The Bengals lead the all-time series by a count of 4-3, although this is the first meeting since the squads battled during the 1974-75 campaign.

Digging themselves a deep hole in the first half, the Bengals shot only 8- of-28 from the floor through the opening 20 minutes versus New Mexico, resulting in a 42-20 deficit at the break. The second half was more favorable for ISU as the squad connected on 11-of-28 from the floor, but still the team was barely competitive in enemy territory.

Jeffrey Solarin and Chris Hansen both tallied 17 points, combining to shoot 12-of-25 from the field, but that meant the rest of the roster for the Bengals converted a collective 7-of-31. The team as a whole made good on just 5-of-20 beyond the arc and 12-of-21 at the free-throw line, all while turning the ball over 15 times.

First and foremost for the Pioneers, they have the luxury of having the 2014-15 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year in Brett Olson. The senior guard is coming off a 2013-14 campaign in which he was named to the All-Summit League First Team after posting 14.5 ppg, 3.5 apg and 3.4 rpg, doing everything possible to make his team successful. Olson also finished seventh in the nation in free-throw shooting at 90.2 percent.

The other senior to be found in the starting lineup for Denver is Cam Griffin who placed fourth on the unit in scoring with 8.5 ppg and was first on the glass with close to six rebounds per game. However, there were times that Griffin played a bit too physical and limited his own time on the floor, something he'll need to keep an eye on this season. Jalen Love, who fouled out of seven contests, returns after putting up 9.1 ppg, although he shot just 40 percent from the field.

Considering the Pioneers try to keep scoring to a minimum, that might actually work in favor of Idaho State, that is if the Bengals can regroup in short order and find a way to get beyond an ugly season opener.