Dec. 6, 2002

Box Score

AMES, Iowa - The University of Denver men's basketball team could not complete head coach Terry Carroll's homecoming as they dropped a 74-69 decision to the Binghamton Bearcats in the first round of the Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa on Friday afternoon. The lose snaps the Pioneers' two-game winning streak and drops them to 2-3 while the Bearcats improve to 4-1.

Senior guard B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas) tried to make the homecoming a happy one by scoring a game-high 18 points on 4-of-11 shooting from deep. Sophomore guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) added 13 points on just 5-of-13 shooting from the floor. Junior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) continued his strong play, helping with 10 rebounds and four points. Jeffery St. Fort led the Bearcats with 18.

Binghamton was able to take advantage of a frantic first half in which the two teams combined for 18 turnovers. Denver stayed within shouting distance despite being out rebounded 20-17. The Pioneers were 11-of-33 from the floor, dropping in 25 points. The Bearcats were 11-of-26 from the floor, but used three free throws and one more three pointer (four compared to Denver's three) to give them a four-point lead at half.

The pace picked up in the second half, much to the chagrin of Denver. The Pioneers cut the deficit to two early in the half but could not get any closer the rest of the way. Binghamton used second chance opportunities and three-pointers to open up an 11 point lead with 9:30 remaining. Denver responded by scoring eight straight points to pull within three at 54-51 with 7:15 remaining. The two teams exchanged buckets the rest of the way with the Bearcats holding off a late rally by the Pioneers.

"We were so close," said Carroll. "We had unbelievable looks on our end but just were not able to connect and when you are not shooing the ball well we need to attack and we did not do that tonight."

Two three-point baskets by junior Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) cut the lead to three 70-67 with under a minute remaining, but Binghamton hit its three throws in the final minute to keep the Pioneers at bay.

The Pioneers will be in action again tomorrow afternoon when they face the loser of tonight's second game between Western Illinois and Iowa State in the consolation game of the Cyclone Challenge hosted by Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Game time will be either 4:30 or 7 p.m. MST. Iowa State win or lose will play at 7 p.m.