Feb. 3, 2005

Box Score

DENVER - Junior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down 15 boards to lead the University of Denver men's basketball team to a 75-73 win over Sun Belt Conference-foe New Mexico State tonight in Magness Arena. The Pioneers' win improves their record to 12-7 (7-1 SBC) and keeps them tied for first place in the conference. The Aggies' loss drops their record to 5-16 (1-7 SBC).

"The first 34 minutes they were really taking it to us," said head coach Terry Carroll. "We did not come out ready to play defensively. But I give my team credit, they were extremely competitive, never gave up, continued to fight and it worked out for us. We continued to go into the paint and they couldn't find an answer to Yemi."

The Aggies had a solid start, jumping out to a quick 9-4 lead. Baskets from senior guard Erik Benzel (Spokane, Wash.), junior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) and Nicholson put the Pioneers back in the game, giving Denver a 10-9 advantage with 16:12 left in the first. The teams then traded basket-for-basket, creating eight lead changes in the next four minutes, leaving the Aggies leading 18-17 with 13:15 to play. The teams continued to battle until NMSU sunk three-consecutive long-range buckets, including two from Duane John, to jump out to a 39-30 lead, with 6:27 remaining in the half. Denver's Benzel and Nicholson tried to cut the Aggies' lead with three points apiece, but three-consecutive 3-pointers by Josh Jenkins gave NMSU a 50-38 advantage heading into the second half.

Nicholson tallied 22 points and three blocks in the half. Duane John scored 16 for NMSU. The Pioneers shot 44.7 percent (17-38) from the field, compared to the Aggies' 61.3 percent (19-31). There were also 11 lead changes in the half.

The teams came out even to begin the second half, with Denver receiving points from sophomore forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.), Benzel and Nicholson, leaving the Pioneers still trailing 54-44, with 16:24 remaining. Denver turned up the pressure in the next three minutes and capitalized on three stops, scoring five points. Billups added a layup off a feed from Nicholson to bring the Pioneers within six (57-51), with 12:23 to play in the game. A 3-point bucket from way downtown by Benzel brought Denver within three, before NMSU's Davis scored twice on quick breakaways.

The Aggies' Davis continued to slip through Denver's defense, sparking NMSU on a 7-0 run and putting the score at 64-54, with 8:54 remaining. NMSU dominated on offense until Nicholson made a soft layup to start an 11-0 run for the Pioneers. Layups from Benzel and Billups and a jumper from Carpenter pulled the Pioneers within one (72-71) with three minutes on the clock.

A foul on Trevor Lawrence, put Nicholson on the line. After making his free throw, Nicholson added another layup to give the Pioneers at 74-72 lead, with 49 seconds to play. NMSU's Jenkins was sent to the line but only capitalized on one free throw, keeping Denver's lead at one (74-73). Denver turned over a sloppy pass by the Aggies, which sent Benzel to the line and sealed the 75-73 victory for the Pioneers.

Nicholson scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Benzel contributed 17, Carpenter added 11 and Porch pulled down 10 boards in the victory. Nicholson also had six blocks, two assists and two steals. The Pioneers shot 47.1 percent (32-68) from the field, compared to the Aggies' 43.8 percent (28-64).

The Pioneers continue their homestand when they face Louisiana-Lafayette in a battle for first place on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m., in Magness Arena.