Box Score Feb. 19, 2005
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Junior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) recorded his tenth double-double of the season with 30 points and 13 rebounds as the Denver Pioneers secured second place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division with a 81-58 victory over New Mexico State tonight at the Pan American Center. The win improves the Pioneers to 16-9 overall and 10-3 in the SBC. The Aggies eighth consecutive loss drops them to 5-20, 1-12.
Junior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario), sophomore forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) and senior guard Rodney Billups (Denver, Colo.) joined Nicholson in double-figures with 12, 10 and 10 points, respectively. The Pioneers were a perfect 19-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Denver ends the regular season with a 6-8 overall road record, including 4-3 in the SBC. Both are bests since returning to the Division I level in 1998.
Nicholson led the Pioneers' second-half attack, scoring seven early points to give the Pioneers a 55-40 lead with 15:42 remaining in the game. Nicholson and Denver just kept coming, opening a 68-44 lead off a jump shot by Porch at the 9:29 mark. The Aggies could not any closer than 21 the rest of the way.
The game had a good flow early with Duane John pulling New Mexico State to within 8-7 with a fall-away jumper with 15:49 remaining in the first half. The Aggies took a two-point lead, but a 6-0 run capped off by two free throws from Carpenter pulled Denver back in front, 16-12, at the 11:45 mark.
The Pioneers went on a 16-2 run which included three 3-pointers, two by senior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.) and one by Carpenter giving the Pioneers a 37-22 lead with 5:48 left in the half. Denver pushed the lead to 17, but a 5-0 by the Aggies to end the half made the score 45-33.
Carpenter and Nicholson each had 12 to lead the Pioneers. Denver was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line and won the rebounding battle, 22-14.
The Pioneers return home for their final two regular-season games of the year next weekend. Denver hosts South Alabama and New Orleans on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
