Dec. 3, 2005

Box Score

DENVER - Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) dominated the game with a 20 point first half as the DU men's basketball team defeated Montana State, 69-66, this afternoon at Hamilton Gymnasium. Nicholson went 9-of-14 (.643) from the field and added two blocks for his third consecutive double-double. Sophomore guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) had a career-high 15 points, all in the second half, including going 3-of-3 from behind the arc, while junior forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) added 12 points on 4-of-9 (.444) shooting.

"It was a close game and it was good to see players stepping up, especially when Yemi fouled out," said head coach Terry Carroll. "I was pleased with the way that they responded and we will have to learn to play that way because there will be other games like this during the season. I was pleased with the play of Steve Wetrich; he keeps getting better and better, and made some huge buckets and free throws and will continue to get better with experience."

The Pioneers came out of the gates playing an up-tempo pace scoring the first four points of the game, but the Bobcats answered with a trey to cut the DU lead to one. DU dictated the pace of the game on the defensive end as well, getting several big rebounds from senior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) and junior guard Alex Cox (Queensland, Australia) which led to several big put backs by the Pioneers. The Bobcats were able to capitalize on DU mistakes and made their free throws, to take a 10-8 lead at the 13:35 mark. Montana State wouldn't go away and extended their lead to 14-8 with a trey by Carson Durr and a bucket by Marvin Moss.

The Pioneers begin to pick up their offensive intensity courtesy of Nicholson, who had two quick buckets to cut the Bobcat lead to 18-12, midway through the half. The big guy continued to led DU, coming up with a huge steal on the defensive end and went coast-to-coast to put cut the lead to four. Sophomore forward David Kummer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) came up with a huge bucket to cut the lead to two points but the Bobcats inside-outside offense continued to trouble the Pioneers as Ja'Ron Jefferson drained back-to-back three's to extend the Bobcat lead to 26-20 at the 6:10 mark.

Wetrich provided a spark of the bench for the Pioneers as he guided DU to an 8-2 run in the final minutes of the half to tie the game at 28 before Nicholson hit twice at the charity stripe as the Pioneers took a two point lead. The Bobcats hit a trey to tie the game at 30. Marvin Moss hit a 3-pointer to take the lead, but Porch added a bucket to notch the game at 32 all heading into halftime.

DU started the second frame right were they left off at the end of the first, driving on the offensive end and denying on the defensive end. The teams traded buckets in the early goings but Carpenter gave the Pioneers a 37-34 advantage with a bucket and a Montana Sate foul. Junior guard DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill,) added two points at the charity stripe to extend the DU lead to 39-36, while a bucket by Porch gave Denver the 41-36 advantage. Montana State slowly climbed back out of their hole and cut the DU lead to 45-42 with a trey by Jefferson. Montana State added another trey to cut DU's lead to two midway through the second half. Another 3-pointer by Jefferson gave the Bobcats a one-point lead, but the Pioneers regained the lead with two free throws by Nicholson. Wetrich drained back-to-back treys to give DU a 57-53 lead at the 6:18 mark of the second half. The Bobcats continued to hang around hitting a trey and capitalizing at the free-throw line to cut the DU lead to 57-56 but Wetrich hit again from 3-point land to give Denver a 62-57 advantage in the final minutes of the game. Montana State hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds but Denver hung on for the 69-66 victory.

DU hits the road next week when they travel to South Dakota State on December 10 and North Dakota State December 13. The Pioneers return to Magness Arena January 2, when they host regional rival Wyoming in the annual PACK THE HOUSE GAME.