Dec. 30, 2001

Box Score

DES MOINES, Iowa - Luke McDonald led all scorers with 22 points to lead host Drake to a 72-68 non-conference win over the University of Denver in men's basketball action Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (6-5) won the game at the free-throw line, hitting 24 of their 34 charity tosses, including their final 11 points over the last four minutes, 12 seconds of the game. Drake made just eight field goals in the second half, but spent the last 10:58 of the game in the double-bonus when the Pioneers were whistled for numerous fouls early in the half.

Junior guard B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas / Converse Judson HS) led the Pioneers (3-8) with 21 points. Senior forward Sherman Rochell (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Northern Oklahoma College) added 18 points, and senior forward Wahhab Carter (El Reno, Okla. / El Reno HS) posted his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pioneers hit their first two shots of the game, then later went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead. Yet McDonald hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 14-13. Drake made five 3-pointers in all in the first half, led by McDonald's pair and another two from David Newman. Pratt's two free-throws pulled the Pioneers within 20-19 with 7:58 to play in the half, but the Bulldogs would go on an 11-6 run to take a 31-25 lead into the locker room.

Pratt and Rochell scored 10 of Denver's 12 points through the first 4:10 of the second half to take a 38-37 lead. Much like the New Mexico State game on Thursday, the two teams see-sawed for the next eight minutes. While the Pioneers held Drake without a field goal over a 5:38 stretch in the middle of the second half, the Bulldogs stayed in the game by earning the double-bonus with 10:58 to play. Drake tied the score at 51 when McDonald made his first bomb of the second half with 9:03 left, then the Bulldogs took their last lead 33 seconds later on a free throw by Greg Danielson.

Drake was 22-of-32 from the line in the second half, while the Pioneers were 10-of-13. Even with the foul trouble, the Pioneers remained in the game through the end. After Carter dunked with eight seconds left, Pratt stole the inbounds pass and was fouled with five seconds left. He made both free throws, pulling the Pioneers within two at 70-68 with 5.8 seconds left.

"I'm really proud of the effort the team gave today. Our team grew up today" said head coach Terry Carroll. "Good things are going to happen to this team. I don't know when, but this team is doing exactly what we're asking them to do. If we continue to show improvement, who knows what this team can accomplish?"

The Pioneers continue their three-game road trip this week by returning to Sun Belt Conference action. Denver faces Arkansas State on Thursday, Jan. 3, and Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 5. The Pioneers complete a three games in five days swing by returning home to Magness Arena next Monday, Jan. 7, to play Morris Brown.