March 10, 2003

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, KY - Sophomore point guard Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) scored 13 and junior forward Ziggy Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) had his second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Denver Pioneers fell to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 83-59, in 2003 Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Tournament semifinal on Monday night in E.A. Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky.

Denver ends the season with its best Division I record (17-15) since returning to Division I in 1998, while Middle Tennessee improves to 16-13.

"I am proud in the year our kids had," Denver coach Terry Carroll said. "We are disappointed it ended this way, but it was a great year."

Both teams struggled offensively in the first four minutes with Middle Tennessee leading 6-5 on a layup by Bryant Mitchell. Denver's offensive remained stagnate as MT heated up and took a 17-8 lead with 11:28 remaining in the half. Two free throws by Zupic kept the Pioneers within shouting distance at 24-12 at the 7:50 mark.

DU continued to struggle on the offensive end of the floor, only shooting 33.3 percent in the half (10-of-30), but two charity tosses by Billups kept the Pioneers within 12 (32-20) with just 3:38 left in the first half. Denver battled back; cutting the margin to seven, but a runner by Erik Parham with under a minute remaining gave the Blue Raiders a 40-31 advantage in a half that saw them shot a blistering 64.3 percent (18-of-28).

DU did not respond at the break as Middle Tennessee opened a 54-37 lead on a dunk by Tommy Gunn. The Pioneers defense was non-existent, letting Gunn put home a pointblank layup, increasing the deficit to 20 (63-43) with 11:43 remaining in the game.

Denver hustled throughout the second half, but a turn-around jumper by junior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.) could not help the Pioneers as they trailed 73-47 with 6:37 left. Two three-pointers by Billups closed the gap to 23 (79-56) at the 2:30 mark.

Starkey had 10 point and season-low four rebounds for the Pioneers who were out rebounded by the MT 38-27. The Blue Raiders outshot Denver 60.7 percent (37-of-61) to 36.4 percent (20-of-55).

Gunn led all scorers with 19; John Humphrey added 15 for the Blue Raiders. William Pippen had.11

Denver ends its season with nine more wins than a year ago. Middle Tennessee will face either Western Kentucky or New Mexico State in tomorrow night's SBC Tournament final.