Feb. 5, 2003

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Junior forward Carvell McAlister (Fresno, Calif.) scored 17 points and senior point guard Dusty Wadlington (Cedar Rapid, Iowa) added a career-high 13 points and eight assists, but it was not enough as the University of Denver men's basketball was defeated 81-77 by Western Kentucky in Sun Belt Conference (SBC) play Wednesday night in Diddle Arena.

Denver's fifth consecutive loss drops the Pioneers to 12-11 overall and 4-5 in the SBC, while Western Kentucky improves to 14-8 overall and 6-2 in SBC play.

"The loss is discouraging, but the way our players played is very uplifting," said head coach Terry Carroll. "If we can build off tonight and continue to grow as a basketball team the next month could be very exciting."

With the first four minutes being so important on the road, Denver weathered the early storm and took an early 11-8 advantage. Sophomore guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) provided the next six Pioneer points with two straight three-pointers, tying the score at 17-17 with 11:55 remaining.

A 12-foot jumper by senior captain B.J. Pratt (San Antonio, Texas) cut a Hilltopper lead to three (29-26) at the 6:23 mark of the first half. Wadlington kept the WKU lead at three with a running-layup with just over a minute remaining. Neither team could score the rest of the way as the Toppers held a 36-33 led at the break.

A possessed Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) turned a missed B.J. Pratt shot into two Pioneer points, keeping the lead at 44-41 at the 15:41 mark. Three consecutive three-point baskets by Western Kentucky swelled the lead to 10, but a layup by Starkey sliced the lead back to eight (53-45) with 11:55 remaining.

Wadlington's behind the back pass to McAlister led to a layup that made the score 61-58 at the 7:49 mark. Denver tied the score at 61 and 65 but two Hilltopper free throws upped the lead to four (71-67) with just 2:48 left to play. The Pioneers managed only six more points as Western scored 14 for the win.

Benzel added 11 points for Denver, which shot 30-of-60 from the field. Starkey, recorded his tenth double-double of the year (13 points, 10 rebounds) as Denver outrebounded Western 31-24.

Mike Wells led all scores with 16. David Boyden added 12, while Patrick Sparks scored 11 and Filip Videnov dropped in 10 for Western.

Denver returns to action on Saturday, February 8 when the Pioneers play host to conference foe Middle Tennessee in Magness Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT and can be seen live in the Denver Metro Area on AT&T Channel 21.