University of Denver
4-4
Loyola Marymount
6-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | OT 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola Marymount | 31 | 36 | 8 | 9 | 84 |
| Denver | 32 | 35 | 8 | 7 | 82 |
Pioneers Lose Heartbreaker in Double Overtime
12/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2003
DENVER - The University of Denver men's basketball team fell to Loyola Marymount in a heartbreaking 84-82 loss, Tues., Dec. 16, at Magness Arena. This was the Pioneers' first overtime game at home since Feb. 22, 2001. Denver's last victory in overtime was against CU-Colorado Springs on Jan. 25, 1996. Senior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) recorded his second consecutive double-double of the season, leading the team in scoring with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Denver falls to 4-4, while LMU improves to 6-2.
Sherman Gay led LMU with six points on an early 11-2 run to give the Lions a 16-6 lead with 12:20 remaining in the first half. A steal by junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) followed by a layup by junior point guard Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) sparked the Pioneers' offensive momentum. With 3:38 left in the half, Denver went on a 10-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 26-25, after a basket from the Pioneers' leading scorer, Starkey. A free throw by LMU's Jason Dickens tied the score at 31-31 with 1:12 remaining, but Denver's Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) answered with one of his own. His basket put the Pioneers up 32-31 at the half.
"Every team has tough games during season," Denver head coach Terry Carroll said. "The true test of any team is how you react from a tough loss. We will put it all on the line again this Saturday at Montana State."
After four lead changes in less than three minutes, the Pioneers took control of the game. A layup by Billups gave Denver a 39-37 lead with 17:17 remaining in the second half. Starkey extended the lead to 48-44 and led the Pioneers on a 12-2 run. The Pioneers took their biggest lead of the game, 12 points, to put Denver up 58-46 with 8:51 left in the game. The Lions answered with an 11-0 run, led by Gay, who had eight points in the stint.
A free throw by Starkey with 4:20 left in the game tied the score at 59-59. The Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to increase their lead to four with 2:47 remaining in the contest. Once again, the Lions attacked and a layup by LMU's Gay tied the score at 65-65 with 1:35 remaining. With 49 seconds remaining, Billups made a key steal for Denver and sent the ball the other direction. Benzel took the ball and with 20 seconds left in the game and hit a jumper to put the Pioneers up 67-65. LMU's Charles Brown attempted a 3-pointer but a key block by Starkey left the Lions empty handed. With one chance to tie the score, Gay hit a jumper with less than a second left in the game to send it to overtime, tied 67-67.
The teams battled it out as neither team led by more than two points in the entire overtime. In foul trouble, LMU's Gay and Dickens fouled out during the extra stanza. Both teams managed to score nine points in overtime to send the game into a second overtime period, tied 75-75. The game remained close but a basket by LMU's Dustin Brown gave the Lions an 80-78 advantage with 1:34 left in the second overtime. Charles Brown clinched the win for the Lions, making both of his free throws with 13.7 seconds left in the game. Starkey attempted a comeback, hitting two free throws and a layup with 0.7 seconds left but it was not enough as the Pioneers fell to the Lions 84-82.
Starkey lead Denver in scoring with 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Gay led all scorers with 26 points. Benzel had 11 points, eight assists and five steals in the game and Gay led all teams with two blocks. Billups pitched in 20 points and junior forward Carvell McAlister (Fresno, Calil.) added 18 for Denver.
The Pioneers will return to action on Dec. 20, when they travel to Bozeman, Mont., to take on Montana State at 7 p.m. MT. Denver defeated MSU 55-33 on Dec. 3, in Denver.
