Jan. 30, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - Allen Haynes scored 21 points and went 6-for-9 from 3-point range and Jason Fontenet added a career-high 20 points as New Mexico State defeated Denver 80-77 Thursday night.

Trailing 77-71, New Mexico State scored the last nine points of the game, including six by Fontenet.

James Moore added 15 points for the Aggies (13-5, 4-3 Sun Belt).

Sophomore guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) scored a career-high 24 points, including 6-for-7 on 3-pointers, and senior captain B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas) added 21 points for Denver (12-9, 4-3).

Denver took a six-point lead with 2:41 to go when junior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) picked up a rebound layup. But the Pioneers failed to score again.

Fontenet hit two baskets and Haynes followed with a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining to give New Mexico State its first lead of the half, 78-77.

After a steal by Haynes, Fontenet was fouled on a drive and made both free throws with 30.6 seconds to go to clinch the victory.

Denver used a 14-9 run early in the second half to take a 63-55 lead, but the Aggies cut the deficit to just one when Haynes hit a 3-pointer with 10:55 to go.

Benzel countered with back-to-back 3-pointers.

In the first half, Benzel scored 13 points and went 3-for-4 from 3-point range, while Pratt scored 12 points to help the Pioneers to a 38-37 halftime lead.

Fontenet paced the Aggies with 11 points in the first half.

Haynes hit a 3-pointer to give the Aggies a 24-19 lead with 9:09 to go in the first half, but the Pioneers slowly chipped away at the margin. Carvell McAlister picked up a rebound basket to even the score at 26-26 with 5:47 to go.

Pratt and Starkey both made four points apiece and Benzel added his final 3-pointer of the half to help DU cling to its one-point halftime lead.

Denver has dropped its last three contests while the Aggies have won five of their last six. Chris Jackson led the Aggies with 10 rebounds while McAlister had 12 for the Pioneers.

Denver returns to action on Saturday, February 1 when they host conference foe Louisiana-Lafayette in Hamilton Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. MT and can be heard live on AM 950 "The Fan" or over the internet at DenverPioneers.com.