Dec. 22, 2005

Box Score

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Junior guard DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill.) led four Denver Pioneers in double-figures with a career-high 26 points but it was not enough as Montana State outlasted DU, 84-76 in overtime on Thursday night in Worthington Arena. The Pioneers' fourth consecutive loss evens their record at 5-5. The Bobcats improve to 5-6 with their second consecutive win.

Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) had 15, senior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) added a season-high 14 and junior forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) contributed 11 points.

"We had all the chances in the world to win tonight," said head Terry Carroll. "Our mental breakdowns cost us the game."

The Bobcats were off and running early when a 3-pointer by Ja'Ron Jefferson gave them a 13-8 lead at the15:38 mark of the first half. Jefferson's seventh point kept MSU ahead, 18-14 with 11:34 remaining.

A 12-4 run capped by a Walker put back gave DU a 26-22 lead at the 7:10 mark. Sophomore forward David Kummer's (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) layup with 3:49 remaining pushed DU's lead to 28-23. Walker ended the first half with two free throws to give DU a 37-30 lead.

Walker had 13 first-half points and Carpenter added 10 as DU made 46.4 percent (13-28) of its field goals and 80 percent (8-10) of its free throws. MSU was also a glossy 6-of-7 (.857) from the charity stripe.

The Pioneers used up their mulligan as the Bobcats went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 39-39 with 15:58 left in the game. Nicholson scored five consecutive points to give DU a 48-46 lead at the 11:43 mark.

MSU responded to take a five-point lead but an old-fashion 3-point play by Walker pulled DU to within 57-55 with 7:09 remaining in the game. The game remained close as two free throws by Porch tied the game at 59-59 at the 3:47 mark. The Bobcats opened up a 3-point lead late but Walker hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to send the game into overtime at 62-62.

A Walker three gave Denver a four point lead late in overtime but consecutive 3-pointers by the Bobcats gave them a two-point lead of their own. MSU hit its free throws down the stretch to capture the 84-76 victory.

MSU made 47.4 percent (27-57) percent of its shots and outrebounded DU, 42-26. DU's 82.4 percent (14-17) performance from the free-throw line was outdone by 10 3-pointers by the Bobcats.

The Pioneers conclude their five-game road trip at Sacramento State on Thurs., Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. MT. That game can be heard live on KCKK Am 1600.