Jan. 2, 2004

Box Score

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Career-highs from junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) (30) and senior guard Ryan Goral (Westminster, Colo) (18) propelled the Denver Pioneers to a 88-82 win over Southern Utah in non-conference action tonight at the Centrum Arena in Cedar City, Utah. Denver improves to 7-4 as the Thunderbirds fall to 4-7.

The Pioneers hit a school-record 18 3-pointers led by a school-record 10 by Benzel and six from Goral.

"I don't know if the offenses were that good, or the defenses were that bad," head coach Terry Carroll said. "Benzel was just unbelievable and Goral stepped up and hit so many big shots."

A Southern Utah 5-0 run to open the game combined with a sluggish start hampered the Pioneers, but five consecutive points from freshman forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) put Denver a head 11-10 with 15:44 remaining. A 15-0 run capped off by a two free throws by senior center Brett Starkey (Lakewood, Colo.). put the Pioneers up 12 (28-16).

Three consecutive points by SUU's David Palmer pulled the Thunderbirds to within 33-24 with 7:51 left in the half. Southern Utah continued to battle back and two free throws by Lubor Olsovsky chopped Denver's lead to seven (43-36) with 2:50 remaining. The Thunderbirds pulled to within one, but two free throws by senior forward Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) put the Pioneers up 47-44 at half.

Denver withstood another SUU run, maintaining a four-point lead (60-56) off a layup by sophomore center Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) with just 14:50 left in the game. The Pioneers' momentum continued as another 3-poiner by junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) put Denver up 65-56 with 12:26 remaining. Nine consecutive points by Southern Utah's Palmer pulled the Thunderbirds to within seven (74-67) at the 7:35 mark.

The two squads traded baskets, with the Pioneers keeping their lead at seven (81-74) with 3:19 left in the contest. SUU got as close as three, but could not overcome Denver.

Palmer led all scores with 38 and DeAngleo Newsom added 22 for the Thunderbirds. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 36-31 with Nicholson leading the way with eight.

Renowned sports commentator, Dick Vitale, will help PACK THE HOUSE at the Denver's final non-conference game of the season vs. Wyoming on Tues., Jan. 6, at 7 p.m., in Magness Arena. The colorful commentator will participate in several activities at timeouts during the game, and preside over his signature half-court shot contest as well as a sound alike contest at halftime. The contest can be seen live on Comcast Channel 5/64 and ESPN Regional. Mitch Hyder (play-by-play) and Irv Brown (color) will call the action for the Pioneers. It can also be heard live on AM 1600 KCKK and DenverPioneers.com.