Jan. 21, 2006

Box Score

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The University of Denver men's basketball team dropped its third consecutive contest tonight, 62-52 at Arkansas-Little Rock. Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.), junior forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) and sophomore guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) all had 12 points for Denver who fell to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans improved to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in the SBC.

Zack Wright led four Trojans in double-figures with 19 points. UALR made 91.3 percent (21-23) of its free throws and DU made 90.9 percent (10-11).Denver outshot UALR 45.5 percent (20-44) to 35.8 percent (19-53), but turned the ball over nine more times, 19-10.

The two teams combined for only three points in the second half's first four minutes with Denver closing the gap to 28-27. The Trojans went on an 8-2 run but a floater by junior forward DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill) kept the Pioneers within three at 36-33 with 11:07 remaining in the game. The only basket scored over the next three minutes was a Wetrich 3-pointer that tied the game at the 7:55 mark. The contest was tied at 40-40 when UALR went on a 14-4 run to put the game out of reach at 54-44 with only three minutes remaining. DU did cut the lead to eight but the Trojans were just too much in the 62-52 win.

Rashad Jones-Jennings had 10 and Elijah Muldrow had 12 second-half points for UALR. Wright had 11.

Arkansas-Little Rock jumped out to a 7-3 during the game's first four minutes. A Wright 3-pointer at the 11:35 mark kept the Trojan lead at 15-11. The margin remained four when sophomore forward David Kummer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) slammed home a put back with 7:35 remaining. Denver continued to trail by four Porch's put back made the score 23-19 at the 3:23 mark. Porch scored two of the Pioneers' final three baskets to cut the lead to 27-25 at half.

DU made 52.4 percent (11-21) of its first-half shots, but turned the ball over 12 times. Malone had 10 first-half points, including four of UALR's seven free throws.

The Pioneers return home next week to host a pair of SBC games. DU will play host to West Division leader South Alabama on Thurs., Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. before hosting the SBC's newest member, Troy on Sat., Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Both games can be heard live on KCKK AM 1600 and DenverPioneers.com.