Jan. 2, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - Senior captain B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas) scored a season-high 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, as Denver avenged an earlier loss to Montana with a 62-54 victory Thursday night.

Pratt was 7-for-14 on 3-pointers for Denver (8-5), which lost 75-47 on Nov. 26 in Missoula.

"I was really pleased with the way our defense played," said head coach Terry Carroll. "We are able to keep them from making big baskets when they needed them most, while hitting big baskets of our own on the other side of the court."

Junior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers, who won their third straight game.

Steve Horne led Montana (6-8) with 15 points. David Bell had 14 for the Grizzlies, who shot 32 percent for the game.

Denver used scoring runs of 16-3 and 8-2 to build a 33-21 halftime at the expense of cold-shooting Montana.

Trailing 9-6 after Mike Chavez's rebound basket, Denver went on a 16-3 run started by a 3-pointer from Pratt. The Pioneers moved ahead 22-12.

Two baskets by Marcus Rosser and a 3-pointer by Bell got Montana, 9-for-29 in the opening half, within 25-19 with 3:05 left. Starkey muscled in two baskets and Pratt buried a jumper as Denver scored the next eight points.

Pratt opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Montana managed baskets only by Bell and Horne. The Pioneers increased their lead to 48-26 with 12:22 left.

Bell heated up with two 3-pointers, the second with 4:40 left as Montana closed the gap to 57-47. Victor Venters got the Grizzlies closer, 57-49, with two free throws.

Sophomore point guard Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) and Pratt later sealed the victory for Denver with two free throws each in the last minute.