Dec. 20, 2003

Box Score

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) scored a career-high 28 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-6 from 3-point range, as the Denver Pioneers defeated the Montana State Bobcats, 81-79, Saturday night (Dec. 20) at Worthington Arena in Bozeman, Mont. Denver survived 20 turnovers by shooting a season-best 61.2 percent (30-49). The Pioneers improve to 5-4 and the Bobcats fall to 3-5.

"The thing that excites me most is the way our team responded from that disappointing loss on Tuesday night," said Denver head coach Terry Carroll. "We played MSU twice this season and have two 2-point wins, that shows how close this game can be."

The two teams traded early baskets as Denver opened a 14-10 lead off a Benzel 3-pointer at the 15:45 mark. Four consecutive points, including a dunk by sophomore center Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) gave the Pioneers a five-point advantage (22-17) with 10:54 left in the half. A layup by senior center Brett Starkey (Denver, Colo.) at the 7:55 mark kept Denver's lead at five, 26-21.

The Pioneers extended their lead to 10, but a layup by Montana State's Nick Dissly pulled the Bobcats to within six (35-29) with 3:34 remaining in the first frame. Denver pushed the lead back to 11, but a 6-0 run by MSU, capped off by a Jason Erickson layup, made the score 43-37 at half. Both teams shot the ball well in the first half with the Pioneers making 65.5 percents (19-29) of its shots and MSU hitting 61.9 percent (13-21). Thirteen Denver fouls, compared to just four on the Montana State, kept the score close.

The second half began just as the first ended, with the Bobcats on a run. Two more early fouls on the Pioneers and a free-throw line jumper my Danny Faaborg pulled MSU to within four (50-46) at the 16:11 mark. Montana State took its first lead since the 16-minute mark of the first half, but two free throws by junior point guard by Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) put Denver back in front, 58-57, with 11:54 left in the game.

The Pioneer went on a 10-0 run, including six points from Benzel, to regain the advantage, but a jumper by Faaborg ended Denver's run and pulled the Bobcats to within five (67-62) at the 8:13 mark. MSU continued to claw back, pulling even at 74-74. Senior forward Carvell McAlister (Fresno, Calif.) hit two free throws to pull the Pioneers back in front by two with just three minutes remaining. Montana State moved back ahead 79-78, but three free throws down the stretch by Denver allowed the Pioneers to hold on for the 81-79 victory.

Starkey had 13 points and Nicholson contributed a career-high 10 for Denver. Erickson scored 19 and Dissly added 18 for MSU. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 27-21, with senior forward Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) leading the way with six.

Denver returns home to closeout 2003, on Tues., Dec. 30, when the Pioneers play host to in-state foe Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. in Magness Arena.