Dec. 3, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver men's basketball team defeated Montana State 55-53 in its home opener at Magness Arena on Wednesday, December 3. Senior Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) led the Pioneers with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Pioneers boost their record to 2-2, and MSU falls to 3-2.

The Pioneers struck first, as Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) made his first 3-point bucket of the season. The Bobcats answered Denver's basket and pressured the Pioneers into eight first-half turnovers. MSU took control of the game and lead the Pioneers by six points (16-10) halfway through the first half. The Pioneers slowly came back after back-to-back turnovers by the Bobcats, but never evened the score. Foul troubles followed the Pioneers and the Bobcats capitalized on free throws, making all six of their attempts.

MSU's Nick Dissly hit a 3-pointer with 1:28 left in the half, but Denver's Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) answered to pull the Pioneers within two. MSU tallied the final score of the half, leading the Pioneers 27-23.

Denver raised its intensity in the second half and went on a 6-0 run to take the lead with 16:11 left in the half (31-29). MSU tied the score after a basket from Matt Towsley. Denver turned on the pressure again and went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead (41-34).

With 30.7 seconds left in the game, MSU's Frank Brown tied the score at 53-53 with a pair of free throws. The Pioneers regained possession of the ball and with 2.3 seconds remaining in the game, senior Carvell McAlister (Fresno, Calif.) sent a pass to Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.). Benzel, coming off a spectacular performance against Chicago State, made his first basket of the evening, while clinching the game winner.

"Anytime we get a win, we're happy," head coach Terry Carroll said. "We never quit on the defensive end. We made some big stops and hung in there to the end."

Frank Brown led all scorers with 18 points. Billups scored 13 points for the Pioneers and Porch added 12.

The Pioneers continue their homestand on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. MT, when they host Southern Utah in Hamilton Gymnasium.