Dec. 12, 2001

Box Score

DENVER - Senior forward Sherman Rochell (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Northern Oklahoma College) and junior guard B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas / Converse Judson HS) each tallied a game-high 16 points to lead the University of Denver to a 63-53 win over Air Force at Magness Arena on Wednesday.

Denver's defense stifled a Falcon attack that hit on 53 percent of its shots in a 52-44 loss at Clune Arena on Nov. 18. Wednesday night, Air Force (4-5) made just 37 percent, including 32 percent in the second half. The Pioneers (3-4) outrebounded Air Force by a 29-22 margin, and also had 10 assists against only nine turnovers.

After Air Force took a commanding 16-6 lead on back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers, the Pioneers used a 16-2 run over the next 7 minutes, 17 seconds to take a 22-18 lead. Sophomore Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo. / Green Mountain HS) also keyed the run by hitting his first career 3-point attempt and finished with six points. Over the span, Denver sank 6-of-10 shots, while holding the Falcons to 0-for-5 shooting. With the help of that run, Denver took its third halftime lead of the season at 28-25.

The Falcons sank the first basket of the second half to trim the lead to one, but that would be as close as Air Force would get. A pair of free throws from Rochell and a wide-open 3-pointer by junior Leslie Richardson II (Aurora, Colo. / Overland HS / Lamar CC) bumped the lead to 10 (40-30) with 9:59 left, and a field goal by sophomore Ryan Goral (Westminster, Colo. / Horizon HS) made it a 14-point game with 6:08 to go. Denver had only one field goal after that point, yet sank 12-of-14 free throws over the final 4:12 to put the game comfortably away. For the night, the Pioneers shot 89.5 percent (17-of-19) from the line.

Tom Bellairs led Air Force with 13 points, yet had only three in the second half after playing into foul trouble. He eventually did foul out with 4:39 left.

The Pioneers finish off the Front Range portion of their schedule with a home game this Saturday against Colorado State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Magness Arena, and the game will be broadcast live by FOX Sports Net Rocky Mountain.