DENVER (AP) Erik Benzel and Yemi Nicholson scored 16 points each to lead Denver to a 79-62 victory over North Dakota State in its regular season opener Sunday.
Benzel was 6-for-11 shooting with four 3-pointers and Nicholson also had nine rebounds for Denver (1-0). Rodney Billups added 14 points and four assists.
Phil Hahn and Myron Green led North Dakota State (0-2) with 17 and 16 points respectively. North Dakota State had a 39-32 rebounding edge, but struggled with 18 turnovers.
Denver had the game put away by halftime, after shooting 64 percent and getting 21 points from its backcourt combination of Benzel and Billups to take a 42-24 lead into intermission. North Dakota State hurt itself with 13 turnovers and 37 percent shooting in the period.
The Bison improved their shooting to 47 percent in the second half, but Nicholson and the Denver bench kept them at bay. North Dakota never got closer than 77-61 after Andrew Brown's tip in and a free throw by Green with 1:48 left.
