University of Denver center Yemi Nicholson made tip-ins look easy Thursday, producing points on attempts that had no business going in.
However, the one tip-in he needed most at Magness Arena didn’t fall, leading to a 71-70 loss to Western Kentucky that snapped the Pioneers’ home- winning streak at 16 games.
“We got the shot and everything we wanted, with the opportunity to win it, but tonight the ball just didn’t go in,” DU coach Terry Carroll said.
Nicholson, playing before at least 10 NBA scouts, agents and executives, was sensational with 28 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the Sun Belt Conference game. But he couldn’t convert amid heavy traffic in the paint after David Kummer’s shot rimmed out with four seconds to play.
Joemal Campbell grabbed the rebound and DU, which took a timeout with 11 seconds left to set up its final shot, was unable to foul him before the buzzer.
“We got the shot we planned on – we wanted to drive to the basket and get a layup,” Nicholson said. “But it shouldn’t have came down to that. We had too many turnovers.”
Denver committed 17 turnovers – five more than Western Kentucky (17-5, 9-1), which is a win shy of clinching the Sun Belt’s East Division crown. DU (12-12, 5-6) suffered its third straight loss and sixth in eight games.
“You turn the ball over like we did, you can’t expect to win the game, home or away,” said guard DaShawn Walker, who had 21 points on the strength of 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. “They hit key shots at key moments and we kept turning it over.”
Denver, which had won 20 of its previous 21 games at home, struggled at the end of both halves. Western Kentucky scored the last five points of the first half and four of the last six in the second.
Back-to-back baskets by Benson Callier and Courtney Lee put Western Kentucky ahead 71-68 with 38 seconds remaining in the game. A layup by guard Steve Wetrich got DU within one with 30.6 seconds to play, and Walker came down with a rebound off Ty Rogers’ missed free throw with 17.8 left.
Footnote
Among the NBA contingent following Nicholson were Bill Duffy, whose company represents Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, and Utah Jazz senior vice president Kevin O’Connor.
W. KENTUCKY (17-5, 9-1 SUN BELT)
Wilborn 1-2 0-0 2, Rogers 2-6 2-4 7, Winchester 7-16 0-0 16, Callier 4-10 0-0 8, Lee 7-20 0-0 17, Campbell 1-1 0-0 2, Mendez-Valdez 1-2 0-0 3, Siakam 3-3 1-2 7, Walker 1-3 0-0 2, Jointer 1-2 0-0 3, Emerson 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 30-70 3-6 71.
DENVER (12-12, 5-6)
Walker 7-11 2-2 21, Porch 0-1 0-0 0, Nicholson 9-19 10-11 28, Wetrich 2-8 0-0 4, Seger 2-6 4-4 8, Kummer 2-4 0-0 4, Cox 1-4 0-0 3, Gordon 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-54 16-17 70.
Halftime – Tied 38-38. 3-point goals – W. Kentucky 8-21 (Lee 3-7, Winchester 2-4, Jointer 1-1, Mendez-Valdez 1-2, Rogers 1-4, Callier 0-3), Denver 6-11 (Walker 5-5, Cox 1-2, Seger 0-2, Wetrich 0-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – W. Kentucky 37 (Winchester 8), Denver 36 (Nicholson 17). Assists – W. Kentucky 8 (Lee 2), Denver 19 (Wetrich 10). Total fouls – W. Kentucky 18, Denver 12. A – 1,401.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
