Nov. 21, 2004

Box Score

DENVER - Senior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) and junior center Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) each tallied 16 points to lead the University of Denver Pioneers to a 79-62 season-opening win over the North Dakota State University Bison on Sunday in Hamilton Gymnasium. The Pioneers start the season 1-0, while the Bison fall to 0-2.

"We really came out early defensively and took them out of their game," said head coach Terry Carroll. "Offensively we moved the ball well, which resulted in good shots."

Benzel hit two buckets from long range to send the Pioneers on a 10-3 run to put the score at 16-7, with just over seven minutes into the half. Benzel hit his third consecutive 3-pointer just over a minute later to give the Pioneers a 13-point lead. Consecutive layups by senior point guard Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) gave Denver a 26-9 advantage with 8:37 remaining in the first half. A long jumper by sophomore forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) left the score at 39-16 with 1:45. Two baskets in the last 10 seconds of the half left North Dakota State trailing 42-24, heading into the second stanza.

Benzel was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field including 3-for-3 from long range. The Pioneers shot a combined 64.3 percent (18-of-28) from the field and created seven steals, forcing the Bison to commit 13 turnovers in the first half.

Baskets by Billups, freshman forward Joseph Jackson (Louisville, Neb.), and Nicholson gave the Pioneers a 51-32 lead with 16:13 remaining in the game. Benzel hit his fourth 3-pointer of game to put the score at 59-35, before North Dakota State's Matt Gerber answered with a long-range bucket of his own. Freshman point guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) made his next layup on a breakaway and his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Pioneers their biggest lead of the game, 24 points, and put the score at 64-40, with 11:30 remaining in the game.

The Bison's Myron Green and Andrew Brown each hit a layup with just over three minutes left in the game to bring North Dakota State within 17 points, but a jumper by junior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) clinched the 79-62 win for the Pioneers.

Denver had three players in double figures. Benzel and Nicholson each had 16, while Billups added 14. North Dakota State's Phil Hahn led all scorers with 17 points. Nicholson also led the rebounding effort for the Pioneers, pulling down nine boards.

Denver created nine steals and forced the Bison to commit 18 turnovers in the game. The Pioneers also shot 52 percent (33-of-63) for the game, including 47 percent (9-of-19) from long range. Benzel was 4-for-7 (.571), while Wetrich and Jackson were both 2-for-2 (1.000) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 24, when they travel to Manhattan, Kan., to take on Kansas State at 6 p.m. MT.