Dec. 18, 2004

Final Stats

CHENEY, Wash. - Senior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) scored 30 points and added four assists, two steals, two rebounds and a block in a 80-61 victory at Eastern Washington tonight at Reese Court. Junior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) contributed 22 points, four blocks and a game-high eight rebounds in the win. Denver's first road win improves the Pioneers overall record to 5-3. The Eagles fall to 2-7.

"It was really great to see Erik come out in front of family and friends and perform the way he did," said head coach Terry Carroll. "Erik might get the headline, but it was a total team effort."

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 13-5 lead on the strength of three 3-pointers and a steal by Benzel. A jump shot by junior guard Brett Seger (Omaha, Neb.) extended Denver's lead to 10 at 21-11 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Benzel added to the Pioneers' advantage with a driving layup that made the score 28-15 at the 7:47 mark.

Seger nailed two more free throws, expanding Denver's lead to 37-23 with four minutes remaining in the half. Eastern Washington closed the gap, but a free throw by sophomore forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) in the closing seconds gave the Pioneers a 42-29 lead at the break.

The Pioneers were 57.7 percent from the field (15-of-26), including 5-of-8 (.625) 3-pointers. The Eagles made 40.0 percent (10-of-25) of their field goals.

If it were possible, Denver heated up to begin the second half as a layup by junior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) gave the Pioneers a 53-32 lead with 15:26 left in the game. Play got a little sloppy as the two teams exchanged buckets with Denver still holding a 19-point advantage (55-36) at the 11:42 mark of the half.

Benzel's sixth 3-point bucket of the night gave the Pioneers a 67-40 lead at the 7:48 mark. Benzel's layup with 2:35 left kept Denver up 80-56. Denver failed to score in final two minutes, but it did not matter at the Pioneers held on for an 80-61 victory

Denver was 31-of-53 (.585) from the floor, including 9-of-15 (.600) from downtown. The Eagles made 37.3 percent (19-of-51) of their shots.

Benzel led all scores with a career-high tying 30. Nicholson added 22, while Seger tallied a career-high tying 13. Marc Axton led EWU with 15. Denver outrebounded the Eagles 36-28.

The Pioneers play the second game of a five-game road schedule on Thursday, Dec. 23, when they travel to Fullerton, Calif. to face Cal State Fullerton at 8 p.m. The Pioneers defeated the Titans 79-57 in Denver on Dec. 4.