March 5, 2005

Box Score

DENTON, Texas - Erik Benzel scored 20 points as Denver advanced to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament with a 64-57 win over Arkansas State on Saturday night.

Yemi Nicholson added all of his 13 points in the second half for Denver (19-9), which will face the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between Western Kentucky and New Orleans.

Isaac Wells led Arkansas State (16-13) with 15 points, and J.J. Montgomery added 13.

Benzel scored 16 points in the first half to give Denver a seven-point halftime lead. Nicholson, averaging almost 19 points per game, only played eight minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

Arkansas State climbed within three points on Kitus Witherspoon's basket three minutes into the second half. But the Pioneers answered with a 10-3 run over the next 2 1/2 minutes, capped by a three-point play by Nicholson.

Dewarick Spencer's jumper cut the Pioneers' lead to 60-54 with 2:04 left but Arkansas State couldn't narrow the gap further.