Dec. 31, 2000
DENVER - Center Chris Marcus scored 21 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead Western Kentucky to an 80-61 victory over Denver in the Sun Belt Conference on Sunday.
Marcus was 9-of-19 on field goals and 3-of-7 on free throws as Western Kentucky (8-4, 2-0 SBC) extended a modest 39-32 lead at the break and dominated the second half. The Hilltoppers took control in the latter stages of the half, hitting eight of their last 11 shots in the period.
Western Kentucky shot 56 percent, or 14-of-25, on field goals in the second half and 71.4 percent, or 10-of-14, in free throws.
Marcus' point total was just one shy of his career high and he posted his sixth double-double in 12 games. Nashon McPherson scored nine straight Hilltopper points in the second half, making three straight three-pointers and finishing the contest with a season-high 13 points. And, Mike Wells tallied a career-high 16, hitting 7-9 from the field, including 2-3 treys.
Denver (4-7, 0-1) kept the game alive in the first half but fell into a slump in the second.
The home team shot 35.5 percent, or 11-of-35, in second-half field goals and made just 6-of-17, or 35.3 percent, in free throws.
Arthur Ireland led Denver with 17 points and four rebounds.
Western is off to its best start in six years, since the '94-95 club that finished the year 27-4.
