Feb. 11, 2006

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Junior guard DaShawn Walker (Chicago, Ill.) led four Pioneers in double-figures with 22 points and DU made 61.9 percent (26-42) of its field-goal attempts as the University of Denver defeated Middle Tennessee, 72-62 tonight at the Murphy Center. The Pioneers improve to 13-12 overall and 6-6 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Blue Raiders fall to 12-10 overall and 5-5 in the SBC.

"I am so proud of how the team responded following our tough loss Thursday night," Terry Carroll stated. "Even on Thursday night when we lost we developed an intensity and focus that we didn't have before. We carried that into tonight."

Sophomore guard Steve Wetrich (Ottumwa, Iowa) had a stellar night registering his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists in 40 minutes of action.

Senior center Yemi Nicholson (Aurora, Colo.) recorded 16 points and senior guard Brett Seger (Omaha, Neb.) added 10 points as DU converted on 60.0 percent (9-15) of its 3-pointners.

Fats Cuyler led MT with 13 Marcus Morrison added 11 and Bud Howard had 10.

Denver made two 3-pointers in the second half's first four minutes to up the lead to 38-35. DU used a 9-4 run to push the lead to 47-39 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.

The Pioneers made two more 3-pointers to up the lead to 53-41 at the 7:58 mark. Another spurt by DU put the score at 63-48 with just 3:39 left in the game. The Blue Raiders got no close than 10 as Denver held on for the victory.

Walker scored 19 second-half points as Denver outshot MT, 66.7 percent (14-21) to 31.4 percent (11-35).

Denver came out firing opening an 11-8 lead off a Wetrich 3-pointer at the 15:06 mark of the first half. DU's advantage grew to 13-8 but a 14-6 run by Middle Tennessee gave the Blue Raiders a 22-17 lead with 7:23 remaining in the half.

The Pioneers went on a 6-1 burst of their own to tie the game at 23-23 at the 3:52 mark. Denver finished the half strong as Nicholson scored the Pioneers' final four points to give them a 30-28 halftime advantage.

DU outshot MT in the first half, 57.1 percent (12-21) to 34.5 percent (10-29).

The Pioneers step out of conference play and host Northern Colorado at Magness Arena on Wed, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.