Dec 13, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver men's basketball team snapped a nine-game losing streak against in-state rival Colorado State as the Pioneers defeated the Rams 84-67, Saturday, Dec. 13, at Magness Arena. Senior forward Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) recorded his third consecutive double-double of the season, leading the team in scoring with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Senior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) tallied his first double-double, adding 18 points and grabbing 10 boards for the Pioneers. Denver improves to 4-3, while the CSU falls to 2-1.

After an early 9-4 lead by the Rams, a 3-point basket by freshman Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) started the Pioneers on a 10-2 run with 16:18 left in the first half. Freshman James Lane's (Colorado Springs, Colo.) jumper with 14 minutes left in the half gave the Pioneers their first lead of the evening (12-11).

"In the first half they took the game to us," Denver head coach Terry Carroll said. "The second half was just the opposite, as we were the aggressor on both ends of the floor. Any win is a good win but beating an in-state rival is always an extra bonus."

Fouls on Starkey and CSU's Matt Nelson slowed Denver's momentum as Matt Williams sunk a layup to even the score at 21-21. CSU went on a 9-0 run to finish the half. Porch attempted to cut CSU's lead by nailing a 3-pointer with just over one minute left in the half, but Michael Morris recorded the last basket of the half, giving the Rams a 41-32 advantage at the end of the first stanza.

The Pioneers found new intensity in the second half as Starkey made the first basket of the frame to lead Denver on a 17-0 run. A layup by Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) gave the Pioneers a 47-45 lead with 13:14 left in the second half. Denver continued its dominance on offense as well as defense, leading for the rest of the game and forcing CSU to commit eight turnovers in the second half.

A slam-dunk by Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) with 4:39 remaining in the game sparked the Pioneers final offensive attack. Denver was 19-of-26 from the line and shot 44 percent in the game. A pair of 3-point baskets from CSU's Michael Morris and Jon Rakiecki with about three minutes left in the game was the Rams' best comeback but the Pioneers responded as two free-throws from Starkey gave the Pioneers their largest lead, 19 points, with 49.3 seconds left in the game. CSU's Shelton Johnson added a 3-point bucket with 41 seconds remaining but the Pioneers held out and clinched an 84-67 win.

All five Denver starters scored in double-figures, led by Zupic's career-high tying 21 points. Starkey added 18, Billups had 14, Porch netted 12 and junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) poured in 10 for the Pioneers. Williams was the leading scorer for the Rams, contributing 18 points.

Denver won the rebound battle, (43-40), including 10 from Zupic and Starkey. Williams had nine for CSU.

The Pioneers will conclude its two-game homestand when they play host to Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in Magness Arena.