University of North Texas Athletics
Defense Sparks NT to 71-53 Victory Over UTPA
1/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON (1/8/04) -- North Texas clamped down on UT-Pan American in the final minutes of the game, holding the Broncs scoreless for nearly seven minutes, as the Mean Green ran off with a 71-53 win over UTPA in the Mean Green's final non-conference game of the season.
The 18-point win, the season's second largest margin of victory for North Texas, improves the Mean Green to 5-7 as they look to opening Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday when they host New Mexico State at 7:00 p.m. at the Super Pit.
UT-Pan American suffered its second loss of the season to the Mean Green and now stand 5-10. NT defeated the Broncs in Edinburg in overtime, 87-81, back on December 17.
Saturday's game was tied at 32-32 at halftime and the margin never got more than three points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. But beginning at the 7:11 mark, following a lay-up by UTPA's Ryan Lange, North Texas held the Broncs scoreless until 22 seconds remained in the game. During that stretch, the Mean Green outscored UTPA by an 18-3 spread.
Senior forward Shawnson Johnson led three Mean Green players in double figures with a team-high 18 points on nine-of 13 shooting. He also topped NT in rebounds with nine. Also in double figures scoring for NT were Jerome Rogers with 13 points and Michael DeGrate with 12. True freshman Calvin Watson, playing in his first career game after suffering a broken foot in preseason workouts, finished with nine points.
North Texas dominated on the boards with a 53-30 edge in rebounding. North Texas also blocked seven shots in the game, with Johnson accounting for five blocks to run his season total to 23.
Thursday's game marked the first of a four-game home stretch for the Mean Green. Following Saturday's game against NMSU, North Texas is also scheduled to host Denver (Jan. 15) and Florida International (Jan. 19).
