Jan. 14, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Sophomore guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) had a career night to lead all scorers with 23 points on 6-of -7 shooting; all of his attempts were from behind the 3-point line, as the Pioneers defeated Florida International, 80-55 in Hamilton Gymnasium this afternoon. Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) added 16 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore forward David Kummer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) tallied 15 points, a career-high, in the Pioneer victory. The Pioneers improve to 10-6 (3-0 SBC), while the Panthers fall to 3-13 (0-4 SBC). The Pioneers had their best half of shooting this season going 15-of-23 from the field for 69 percent. The Pioneers were also 8-of-9 from behind the arc good for 88 percent in the second half.

"When you make shots it makes up for a lot of mistakes," said head coach Terry Carroll. "Baskets get every aspect of the team's game going in the right direction."

Kummer converted on the first possession of the game by hitting a quick jumper from just inside the arc. Wetrich kept things rolling, hitting a trey from the right side to give the Pioneers a 5-0 lead in the early goings. FIU's Ivan Almonte put the Panthers on the board with a layup but senior guard Andrew Carpenter (Toronto, Ontario) hit a bucket at 17:34 to push the DU lead to 7-2. Nicholson added to the Pioneer tally by putting up a layup and converting from the line on a FIU foul to give Denver a 10-6 lead at the 15:56 mark. Kummer was the spark for the Pioneers going 2-of-2 from 3-point land and 4-of-4 from the line to help extend the DU lead to 10 points midway through the frame. The Panthers begin to shift the momentum taking advantage of a cold spell by the Pioneers with several quick buckets, but a 3-pointer by Kummer and two buckets at the line by Nicholson gave DU a 24-16 lead with just over five minutes to play in the half. FIU fought back with several buckets but a steal by Carpenter and two free throws and a bucket by Nicholson helped DU take a 33-22 lead into the locker room.

Statistically speaking the Pioneers played a good half of basketball. DU was 10-of-26 from the field for 38.5 percent shooting, while going 4-of-10 from behind the arc good for 40 percent. Kummer led all scorers at the break with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Nicholson pulled down seven rebounds.

Wetrich got the second frame started for the Pioneers by draining a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc to give the Pioneers a 12-point lead before the Panthers converted two free throws, to cut the lead to 10. Junior forward DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill.) added a three to the Pioneer tally, but the Panthers had an answer and forced the Pioneers into several hurried shots and cut the lead to 39-32 at the 16:19 mark. Nicholson had other plans and slammed home a dunk to push the lead to 41-32. Senior guard Brett Seger (Omaha, Neb.) added to the tally with a layup and junior forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) hit a 3-pointer to extend the DU lead to 48-34 at the 13:48 mark. Nicholson and Walker extended the lead to 16 points with back-to-back slam dunks. The Pioneer offense proved too much for the Panthers as DU went on to win the game 80-55.

The Pioneers begin a three-game road trip Jan. 16 when they travel to Denton, Texas for a 6 p.m. match-up with the North Texas Mean Green.