Sun Belt Tournament: Arkansas State Rallies Over Denver, 58-53

Rivers leads all scorers with 20 points.




Denver's Wahhab Carter shoots over Arkansas State's Jason Jennings during first half Sun Belt tournament action Friday.

March 1, 2002

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Nick Rivers scored a game-high 20 points to lead Arkansas State to a 58-53 victory over Denver in the opening game of the Sun Belt Conference tournament Friday.

Arkansas State, 15-15 and the fourth seed from the East Division, will play Louisiana-Lafayette, the first seed from the West in the second round Saturday. Denver, the fifth seed from the West, finished 8-20.

Behind 26-18 at the half, Arkansas State outscored Denver, 13-2, to start the second half and take a 31-30 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Rivers made four of six 3-pointers and scored 14 of his points in the second half.

Jason Jennings scored 12 points for Arkansas State.

Wahhab Carter led Denver with 19 points, Leslie Richardson scored 13 and Erik Benzel had 10.

Denver regained the lead at 37-33, but Rivers made two 3-pointers to help the Indians pull even at 43.

Arkansas State took the lead for good at 45-43 on Kim Adams' layup with 6:21 remaining.

Rivers made two 3-pointers and Odie Williams one as the Indians went ahead 54-50 with two minutes left. Denver didn't score again until the final second of the game.