Jan. 5, 2002

Box Score

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Senior forward Sherman Rochell (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Northern Oklahoma College) scored a career-high 23 points, yet Arkansas-Little Rock shot 57.1 percent from the field as the Trojans registered a 79-63 win over the University of Denver in Sun Belt Conference action Saturday night at ALLTEL Arena.

Nick Zachery had 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead UALR (12-3, 3-0), which has now won 10 of its last 11 games and is unbeaten at home this season.

The Pioneers (3-10, 0-3 Sun Belt) came out of the gate strong, getting two back-door baskets for Rochell on their first two possessions. Rochell had Denver's first six points, in fact, as the Pioneers took a 6-2 lead. Yet four turnovers in the first five minutes let UALR back into the game as the Trojans tied the game at 6-all.

UALR hit 4-of-8 from long distance in the first 13:22 - and for the game was 7-of-14 - and took advantage of seven Pioneers turnovers in that span to take a 26-18 lead. The Trojans extended the lead to eight at 32-24 with 3:33 left in the half, and UALR sandwiched eight free throws around a Zachery 3-pointer and a Damion Ninkovic jumper to build their largest lead of the game.

The Pioneers were in danger of allowing an even bigger Trojan lead when the Pioneers nearly turned the ball over with four seconds left. But a UALR player was ruled out of bounds when touching the apparent steal, and on the next inbounds play, Rochell was fed for a touchdown pass and rammed home a dunk with two seconds left as the Pioneers headed to the locker room down 11 points (43-32).

Back-to-back steals by Rochell and senior forward Wahhab Carter (El Reno, Okla. / El Reno HS) cut the Pioneer deficit to seven at 47-40. UALR went on an 8-0 run over the next 3:17, yet Rochell got two more steals and converted a layup and the same for sophomore guard Ryan Goral (Westminster, Colo. / Horizon HS) to bring the lead within 10 at 58-48 with 9:26 left in the game. A rebound and then jumper at the other end from freshman guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash. / Ferris HS) to trim the lead down to 58-50. Rory Green made two baskets, including a 3-pointer, to bump the Trojan margin to 13 points. The Pioneers returned the deficit to 10 before UALR made some got some key rebounds and steals, converting four free throws to increase the lead to 15 at 75-60.

"Inevitably, there's always a 4- to 5-minute stretch that we allow the other team to make a run. We always come back, but we dig ourselves such a hole that it's hard to climb out," said head coach Terry Carroll. "The team's playing hard. I thought Sherman had a great game tonight in the post. I think once we get a win under our belt, we'll be in good shape."

The Pioneers return home on Monday to both complete a three-game-in-five-day swing, and to start a two-week homestand against Morris Brown. Tipoff at Magness Arena is set for 7 p.m.