Box Score
Trojans fall by 10 at Denver, 68-58
Jan. 20, 2005
DENVER, Colo. -- Brandon Freeman scored 18 points,
but he was the only Trojan in double figures as UALR fell to Denver,
68-58, Saturday night at Magness Arena.
The loss moves the Trojans to 12-6 overall and 4-2
in Sun Belt Conference play. The Pioneers improve to 10-6 and 6-0.
Antonio Porch led Denver with 23 points, while Yemi
Nicholson and Rodney Billups scored 20 and 10, respectively.
Denver's defense dominated the opening minutes of
the game as the Pioneers forced UALR into turnovers on its first three
possessions. The Trojans fell behind 4-0 early, and were down 19-13 with
8:37 left in the first half. A three-pointer by Freeman sparked a short
UALR run, and Josh Jacob's basket with 6:22 left tied the game at 20-20.
Denver again went up by four, but UALR stayed close,
and a three-point play by Michael Pridgeon tied the game once again,
28-28, with 2:28 remaining. Porch scored three consecutive baskets for the
Pioneers to close out the half, with Denver holding a 34-28 lead at the
break.
After UALR's Richard Hardman scored the opening
basket of the second half, Denver rattled off the next six points to take
a 10-point advantage, 40-30, with 17:45 left in the game. A tip-in by
Hardman and a jumper from Freeman brought UALR back to within six, 40-34,
but that was as close as the Trojans would get the rest of the way.
A pair of free throws from Eric Benzel put Denver up
47-37 with 12:52 to play, and the Pioneers' lead stayed in double digits
the remainder of the game.
UALR outrebounded the Pioneers 39-38, but the
Trojans shot just 10 free throws, compared with Denver's 27 trips to the
line.
After a two-game road trip that began with a 71-64
win at North Texas on Thursday, UALR returns home to host Arkansas State
on Thursday before traveling to Miami to play Florida International on
Sunday.
