Feb. 7, 2004

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - Junior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash) netted 18 points for the Denver Pioneers, but it was not enough as the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns defeated Denver, 94-74, in Sun Belt Conference action tonight (Feb. 7) in the Cajundome in Lafayette, La.

"They took the fight to us. I have never seen so many balls taken the rim and dunked," said head coach Terry Carroll. "We are disappointed but not discouraged, this happens in college basketball. We will get back to work Monday and get ready for a very tough Western Kentucky team."

After a short delay due to a lack of lighting in the arena, Benzel gave the Pioneers an early 10-8 lead on a 3-pointer with 16:16 remaining in the first half. Another 3-point basket, this time by freshman Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) upped Denver's lead to 17-12 at the 11:37 mark.

The Ragin' Cajuns took a slim one-point lead (23-22) off a Chris Cameron layup with 7:43 left in the first half. An old-fashioned 3-point play by ULL's Brian Hamilton made the score 33-29 with just 3:31 remaining. The Cajuns finished the first half on a 14-6 run, holding a 47-35 lead at the intermission.

The Ragin' Cajuns came out of the gate on fire hitting five 3-point buckets in the first six minutes of the half. Senior forward Zeljko Zupic (Sinj, Croatia) hit a three of his own to make the score 64-46 with 14:09 left in the game. Benzel nailed his fifth 3-pointer of the night to pull the Pioneers within 14 (68-54) at the 11:49 mark.

Denver continued to fight as a Brett Seger (Omaha, Neb.) free throw cut the deficit to 78-59 with 7:59 remaining in the contest. The Cajuns were just too much down the stretch, holding off the Pioneers for the final eight minutes.

Benzel led the Pioneers with 18 points. Senior forward Carvell McAlister (Fresno, Calif.) and Porch added 12 and sophomore center Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Colo.) contributed 10 for Denver who shot 49.2 percent (29-59) from the field and 52.5 percent (10-19) from behind the 3-point arc. Antoine Landry led all scores with 18 points. Brad Boyd had 15, Hamilton contributed 13, Laurie Bridges and Orien Green added 12 and Cedric Williams netted 11 for the Ragin' Cajuns. ULL shot 52.1 percent (37-71) from the floor and 54.5 percent (12-22) from downtown.

The Cajuns won the rebounding battle, 38-28 led by Bridges who had 14. Zupic had five to lead Denver.

Benzel's 82 3-pointers rank first all-time on Denver's single-season 3-point field goals made list.

The Pioneers return home to face defending SBC Champion Western Kentucky on Thurs., Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. The game can be seen live on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain. It can also be heard live on DenverPioneers.com.