Feb. 22, 2007

Final Stats

MONROE, La. -

 The University of Denver men's basketball team ended the regular season with an 87-51 loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday night at Fawt-Ewing Coliseum.

 

The two teams exchanged the lead eight times in the first half, but the Warhawks (17-12, 11-6 SBC) outscored the Pioneers (4-24, 3-15 SBC) 54-24 in the second half.

 

With the ULM win the Warhawks clinched a share of the SBC Western Division title. If North Texas beats Arkansas State tonight in Denton, Texas, the Warhawks win the division outright and also a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

 

Denver was led by senior guard Alex Cox (Brisbane, Australia), who scored 11 points, and senior forward Antonio Porch (Denver), who scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds.

 

Both teams had shooting problems in the first half, as Denver hit 33.3 percent and ULM hit 31.7 percent from the field, but the Warhawks headed to the locker rooms leading, 33-27.

 

The Pioneers' shooting woes continued into the second half, when the Pioneers shot 25.8 percent, including just 1-of-11 from three-point range, while ULM returned firing, hitting 62.5 percent from the field after the break.

 

Warhawks guard Tony Hooper scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and guard Jonas Brown added 20 points.

 

The Pioneers will play the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The game will be held at the home court of the fourth seed, which will not be determined until after Saturday's games.