Simpson Records 21 Points In Victory

DENTON (12/30/05) Senior Jeffrey Simpson scored a season-high 21 points and recorded four blocks to lead the North Texas men’s basketball team to an 81-75 victory against Stephen F. Austin on Friday night in the Super Pit.

The Mean Green (6-4) won its second straight game and snapped the Jacks (7-4) winning streak at five. NT improved to 6-1 at home and has won the last three meetings against SFA.

After recording a season high in points last game against UT-Permian Basin, Simpson bested that performance tonight against the Jacks. In addition to his season high in points, Simpson moved into sole possession of third place on NT’s career blocks list with his four blocks tonight, giving him 72 in his two-year career with the Mean Green. The center recorded a season-high five blocks last game.

"I thought Jeffrey played very well tonight," said North Texas head coach Johnny Jones. "He stepped up with this second straight good game. He blocked four shots and his presence kept SFA out of the paint area. He is coming into his own at the right time for us."

Simpson led four players in double figures, including freshman Harold Stewart who came off the bench and scored a career-high 16 points. The forward hit three of four free throws in the last minute of the game to seal the victory for the Mean Green.

North Texas shot a season-best 54.8 percent from the field for the game and made 18-of-27 (66.7) in the second half. The Mean Green was not as successful from the three-point range, hitting only one basket from behind the arc. Kendrick Davis, who finished the game with 10 points, hit a three with four minutes left in the game to halt NT’s drought.

After the Jacks took a brief lead at the start of the second half, North Texas went on an 18-7 run to take its largest lead of the game, 68-54, with 8:10 left in the game. The streak was capped by back-to-back dunks from Simpson, the second off a behind-the-back pass from Michael Sturns. The sophomore dished out a season-high six assists in the game.

The Jacks responded with an 18-8 run that brought them within four, 76-72, with 1:08 left in the game. Simpson made a key jumper to put the Mean Green ahead by six and then Stewart connected from the free-throw line to stop the Jacks.

The first half went back and forth with seven ties. North Texas led by as many as seven points before SFA came back to tie the game at 37 at the break.

Sophomore Quincy Williams recorded his third game in double figures this season with 12 points.

North Texas starts off the new year with a road game against Tulsa on Monday, Jan. 2 at 8 pm.

North Texas postgame notes
North Texas/Stephe F. Austin postgame quotes

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Simpson Records 21 Points In Victory

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