Jan. 17, 2002

Box Score

DENVER - Visiting North Texas used a 21-7 run down the stretch to end the University of Denver's two game winning streak, 78-70, Thursday night at Magness Arena. The Mean Green held the Pioneers without a field goal for the final 7 minutes, 42 seconds.

Senior forward Wahhab Carter (El Reno, Okla. / El Reno HS) led the Pioneers (5-11, 1-4) with 20 points, tying his best scoring output of the season. Fourteen of those points came in the first half, when the Pioneers took a 40-32 lead. Denver shot 50 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, and had 10 assists against just three turnovers, but shot just 10-of-27 (37 percent) in the second half.

"We were in position to win the game and didn't take advantage of the breaks in front of us," said head coach Terry Carroll. "We had too many guys trying to take the game on their shoulders in the final minutes, and that caused a lot of bad shots and turnovers. We're going to have to decide if we want to play for 40 minutes. We can't continue to have these breakdowns."

Chris Davis had 17 points to lead four scorers in double figures for North Texas (8-8, 3-2 Sun Belt). Jermaine Green added 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

North Texas scored the first two baskets of the second half to draw within two points at 40-38, but the Pioneers held firm and even increased their lead to 10 points - their largest of the night - on a layup by senior forward Sherman Rochell (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Northern Oklahoma College) with 12:28 left.

The Pioneers conclude their four-game homestand Saturday at Magness Arena against Sun Belt East Division favorite Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. That game will be preceded by the annual alumni game, which will take place in Hamilton Gymnasium at 4 p.m.