Nov. 29, 2003

Box Score

CHICAGO - Senior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo) scored 25 points on a career-high 12 field goals (12-19) as the Denver Pioneers defeated the Chicago State Cougars 67-60 this afternoon (Nov. 29.) at Jacoby D. Dickens Center in Chicago, Ill. Denver improves to 1-2 as the Cougars slip to 1-3.

"This has been about the most difficult week a college basketball team can have," head coach Terry Carroll said. "This win says a lot about our basketball team."

Denver got off to a tentative start allowing Chicago State to open an early 9-5 lead off a Rubeen Perry jump shot. The Pioneers kept pace as a 3-pointer by junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) keyed a 10-0 Denver run that tied the score at 17-17 with 7:44 remaining in the first half.

The Pioneers' good play continued as a 3-pointer by freshman guard James Lane (Colorado Springs, Colo.) put Denver up by five (23-18) at the 4:55 mark. CSU pulled to within one, but another 3-pointer, this time by freshman forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) extended the Pioneers' lead to 27-22 at halftime.

The Cougars hit their first five second-half shots and went on a 7-0 run to pull ahead 33-31 with 16:16 remaining in the game. Denver surged back in front with 13:08 left in the contest (41-40) off two consecutive lay-ups by Starkey.

Chicago State pulled to within one, but Denver pulled away again as another 3-point basket by Benzel gave the Pioneers a 49-42 lead with just 7:46 remaining in the game. Denver increased its lead to nine on two free throws by senior forward Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) at the 3:41 mark of the second half. CSU got as close as four (62-58) with 33 seconds left, but could not overcome the nine point deficit.

Craig Franklin led all scores with 27 points. Benzel scored 20 points for the Pioneers on a career-high six 3-pointers (6-13). He also had a career-best eight rebounds as Denver outrebounded the Cougars, 40-35.

The Pioneers open their home schedule on Wed., Dec. 3, when the Pioneers play host to Montana State at 7 p.m.