University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Wins Home Finale, 71-68, Over Ragin? Cajuns
2/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON (2/23/04) - Led by Leonard Hopkins’ 19 second-half points, the North Texas men’s basketball team rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to pick up a 71-68 victory against UL Lafayette in the Mean Green’s home finale at the Super Pit.
North Texas (12-13, 7-6) defeated UL Lafayette (15-8, 10-3) for the first time since Feb. 11, 2002. With the win, the Mean Green moves into third place in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference.
"You saw a different basketball team in the second half," said North Texas head coach Johnny Jones. "We came out and made some big shots that allowed us to get back into the game. This win ranks as one of the best comebacks since I have been here. This win puts us another step closer to getting into the Sun Belt Tournament."
After falling behind by as many as 17, the Mean Green scored 30 points in a span of nine minutes to take its first lead of the game, 59-56, with 5:42 left on the clock in the second half. North Texas started the 30-10 run with nine unanswered points, including a Hopkins three-pointer and a dunk by Shawnson Johnson.
A second dunk by Johnson off a steal tied the game at 56-56, pulling the Mean Green even for the first time since the opening minute. He also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, marking the sixth time this season he has pulled down at least 10 rebounds. The senior also recorded three blocks, giving him 54 for the year and the new single-season school record.
Freshman Calvin Watson gave North Texas its first lead, 59-56, with his only three-pointer of the game at 5:42. The Mean Green took its largest lead, 65-56, after two free throws by Jerome Rogers. The senior guard was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 12 of the next 14 points to take a brief, 68-67 lead with 41 seconds remaining in the contest.
After being fouled with fifteen seconds left, Rogers tied the game on his first free throw, 68-68, and gave the Mean Green a permanent lead with the second. On UL Lafayette’s next possession, Hopkins came up with a steal and Rogers was then fouled on his way to the basket. The senior guard made two more free throws, extending the Mean Green lead to three. The Ragin’ Cajuns’ three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short.
North Texas takes to the road to play New Orleans, the second-place team in the West Division, on Thursday, Feb 26 at 7 pm. The Mean Green is just one game behind the Privateers in the West Division standings.
