University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Battle Auburn In 65-90 Setback
1/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
AUBURN, Ala. (1/2/03) The North Texas men’s basketball team (5-7) got 25 points from Chris Davis and had three players score in double figures, but it wasn’t enough in a 65-90 setback at Auburn (11-2) on Thursday in the Mean Green’s final game before beginning Sun Belt Conference play.
Davis scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half of the game as North Texas went into the locker room down 33-46 at halftime. The Mean Green immediately cut the Tigers lead to 10 points (46-56) at the beginning of the second half off a Jerome Rogers three-point basket. Although Auburn responded by building its lead to 21 (57-36) with 15:53 remaining in the game, North Texas chipped away at the Tigers advantage and got it back to 13 (63-50) at the 11:34 mark of the second half. That is as close as the Mean Green would get, however, as the Tigers were able to maintain at least a 14-point advantage the rest of the way.
North Texas was hurt by 21 turnovers, which resulted in 37 Auburn points. The Tigers, who outrebounded the Mean Green 41-38, also recorded 27 second-chance points. North Texas ended the game with a .407 shooting percentage and hit 33 percent of its three-point shots. Auburn shot 44 percent from the floor and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
Rogers came off the bench to score 13 points and Michael DeGrate almost recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and nine rebounds. Due to injury, the Mean Green played without regular starters Will Smith and Jermaine Green, but got solid minutes out of its regular reserves.
Auburn had five players score in double figures, led by Marquis Daniels’ 17 points. Marco Killingsworth recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
North Texas will wrap up a three-game road swing Sunday at Florida International (1 p.m.).
