Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Yemi Nicholson’s putback basket with 0.8 seconds remaining gave Denver a 58-57 win over host Middle Tennessee State in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament on Sunday.
Denver (16-14) will face South Alabama (22-6), a 78-53 winner over Arkansas-Little Rock, in the semifinals Monday night.
Nicholson scored 16 of his 27 points in the second half. His winning basket came on the left block after teammate DaShawn Walker had a 3-point attempt deflected by the Blue Raiders’ Marcus Morrison.
Middle Tennessee State (16-11) got off a shot before the buzzer, but Morrison’s attempt from halfcourt hit the top of the backboard.
The second half featured seven lead changes and three ties.
Middle Tennessee State led 57-54 on Fats Cuyler’s 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining. Denver pulled within 57-56 on a jumper by Antonio Porch with 1:41 left and the two teams swapped turnovers leading to the final moments.
Walker added 21 points for Denver. His 3-pointer with 3:19 to go tied the game for the final time, 54-all. Walker’s eight points late in the first half also ignited a 12-2 run that propelled the Pioneers to a 29-24 lead at halftime.
Morrison led the Blue Raiders with 15 points.
The Blue Raiders hit five of their first six shots to open the game, but shot just 36 percent from the field for the game.
DENVER (16-14)
Walker 5-13 6-6 21, Porch 1-3 0-0 2, Wetrich 0-4 1-2 1, Seger 0-6 0-0 0, Nicholson 11-15 5-7 27, Kummer 0-1 4-4 4, Cox 1-1 0-0 3, Gordon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-43 16-19 58.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (16-12)
Cuyler 4-12 0-0 10, Howard 2-7 2-2 7, Kanaskie 0-3 0-0 0, Morrison 6-13 2-3 15, Hudson 4-5 0-0 8, O’Neil 1-4 0-0 2, Vogelsberg 3-6 4-4 11, Blue 0-5 0-0 0, Young 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 21-57 10-11 57.
Halftime – Denver 29-24. 3-point goals – Denver 6-16 (Walker 5-10, Cox 1-1, Seger 0-1, Kummer 0-1, Wetrich 0-3), Middle Tennessee 5-17 (Cuyler 2-5, Vogelsberg 1-2, Howard 1-3, Morrison 1-4, Kanaskie 0-3). Fouled out – Howard. Rebounds – Denver 27 (Nicholson 9), Middle Tennessee 36 (Howard 13). Assists – Denver 10 (Walker, Wetrich 3), Middle Tennessee 9 (Kanaskie 4). Total fouls – Denver 15, Middle Tennessee 19. A – N/A.
