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DENVER (AP) -- Rodney Billups had 18 points to lead Denver to a 63-61 comeback win Saturday night over New Orleans, giving the Pioneers the Sun Belt Conference West Division title.
Denver (18-9, 12-3 Sun Belt) finished the regular season 8-0 at home in conference games.
After trailing by as much as 14, Denver led 59-55 with 2:13 remaining. James Parlow sank back-to-back 3-pointers for New Orleans (13-16, 7-8) to cut Denver's lead to 62-61, but Billups made a free throw with 20 seconds left to end the scoring.
New Orleans held Denver to one basket in the first five minutes of play and led 24-10 with 7:45 left in the first half. Denver made 10-of-33 from the field for 30 percent shooting in the half, but improved its shooting to 58 percent in the second half.
Denver shot 42 percent for the game from the field while New Orleans shot 38 percent.
Yemi Nicholson had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
Parlow and Jamie McNeilly each had 13 points for New Orleans, and Shawn Malloy had nine points and 10 rebounds.
