University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Edge FIU 94-91 In Double Overtime
1/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MIAMI, Fla. (1/5/03) Behind the strength of Chris Davis’ season-high 27 points, the North Texas men’s basketball team (6-7, 1-0) was able to pin Florida International (6-8, 0-1) with a 94-91 double-overtime loss in both team’s Sun Belt Conference opener.
The game was the fourth time that the Mean Green has ever gone into double-overtime, going 1-2 the first three times. NT was able to build a 10-point lead early in the second half, but FIU came back and actually led 71-65 with 1:36 left in the game. However, the Mean Green pressed and was able to tie the game 71-71 at the end of regulation. The first overtime period ended notched at 80, but North Texas outscored the Golden Panthers 14-11 in the second overtime to claim the victory.
Chris Davis led four North Texas players scoring in double figures. Jerome Rogers, who got his first start of the season, contributed 17 points, Lee Green poured in a season-best 15 points and Rusty Chiles added 11. Davis, who played the game’s full 50 minutes, narrowly missed a triple-double with nine rebounds and eight assists to go along with his game-high 27 points.
Led by Lee Green’s four three-pointers, the Mean Green made nine of its 15 shots from behind the arc in the first half for a .600 percentage. NT shot 61 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes to propel it to a 45-37 lead at the intermission period.
North Texas shot 53 percent from the floor, but the Golden Panthers outrebounded the Mean Green 50-30 to stay in the game.
North Texas ended a three-game road swing today and now returns home for three consecutive Sun Belt Conference games at the Super Pit. The Mean Green’s next outing will be Saturday, Jan. 11, against Denver at 1 p.m. The Denver game will be broadcast by ESPN Regional and can be heard live on the Mean Green Radio Network.
