Jan. 28, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) recorded 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds to lead the Pioneers to a 69-61 victory over Sun Belt Conference Western Division rival Troy Saturday night in Magness Arena. The Pioneers improve to 12-9, (5-3 SBC), while the Trojans fall to 10-9 (3-4 SBC). Junior guard DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill.) added 21 points and 10 rebounds in the victory and senior guard Brett Seger (Omaha, Neb.) added 12 points.

"This was a really gutsy win for our team," head coach Terry Carroll said. "With all that we had to fight through the team really pulled together. Our play in the last four minutes was the best four minutes I have seen us play all season. We stuck in on defense, while making big free throws and keeping our composure."

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead with consecutive 3-point baskets from Seger. Troy's Jacob Hazouri scored three points of his own before a Nicholson dunk sparked an 11-point Denver run, holding the Trojans scoreless for over four minutes. Consecutive 3-point plays by Troy lessened the gap, giving the Pioneers a 17-11 lead with 10:26 remaining in the half.

Walker and sophomore point guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) nailed baskets from beyond the arc to send Denver on a 9-2 run, putting the score at 28-15 with 6:07 remaining in the stanza. Troy fought back, going on an 11-0 run, sparked by two long-range baskets from Cedric Jackson to pull within four of the Pioneers with 2:42 remaining. Denver's junior forward Antonio Porch (Denver, Colo.) and Nicholson added a basket apiece to extend Denver's lead to 35-31 at the half. Nicholson's 10 points and 10 rebounds marked his second consecutive double-double and 12th of the year.

The teams traded basket-for-basket to begin the second half, extending Denver's lead to 44-37 with 16:59 left to play. The Trojans hit three consecutive buckets to pull within two of the Pioneers before a trey by Seger continued Denver's lead, 47-42. Troy's Bobby Dixon picked up the tempo and scored eight consecutive points to give the Trojans' their first lead of the game, 50-47, with 9:53 remaining in the half. The Pioneers refused to go away, as Nicholson had two put-backs to regain a 51-50 lead for Denver. There were two more lead changes before the Pioneers took a 55-53 lead and never looked back. Sammy Sharp pulled the Trojans within one, but a dunk by Nicholson and Seger's fourth trey of the night put Denver up 63-57 with 1:54 remaining in the game. Free throws by senior forward Terrance Gordon (Denver, Colo.), Wetrich and Walker sealed the 69-61 victory for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers shot 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from the field, including 80 percent (8-of-10) from the free-throw line. Wetrich and Nicholson each dished out career high assists, nine and four, respectively. Troy shot 33.8 percent (24-of-71) from the field. The Trojans were led by Bobby Dixon with 24 points.

The Pioneers begin a two-game road trip next Thursday when they tipoff against New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. MT.