DENTON (1/7/06) The comeback fell short as the North Texas men’s basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end in a 72-69 loss to New Orleans on Saturday night in the Super Pit.
The Mean Green (8-5, 1-1) lost its first conference game of the season and trails in the series with New Orleans, 9-3.
This was a very disappointing loss for us," said head coach Johnny Jones. "We should always take care of business at home. We did not do that tonight. Credit New Orleans, I thought they played with a great deal of confidence both offensively and defensively. They were able to withstand our runs in both halves."
Down 70-69, North Texas had an opportunity to win the game with 20 seconds left but was unable to sink a basket despite several attempts during a last possession. The Privateers (4-9, 1-1 Sun Belt) were able to use the clock and the free-throw line to hold onto the victory.
"We had some opportunities," said Jones about the Mean Green's last offensive posession. "We wanted to get a good shot and crash the boards. On the first miss we got two good looks that just did not fall for us."
The Mean Green took its first and only lead of the game, 68-67, after seven straight points by Kendrick Davis with 3:54 left in the game. Neither team could score another basket until Nathaniel Parker dunked the ball to give New Orleans a permanent lead with 1:52 left on the clock. Parker hit two free throws in the final seconds after the Mean Green was forced to foul.
North Texas trailed by as many as 14 points, 41-55, after the Privateers opened the second half with a 9-2 run. The Mean Green responded with a 19-6 run, including eight straight at the start, to come within one, 60-61, with 10:10 left in the game. New Orleans refused to give up the lead until Davis hit a three-pointer to bring NT within one again, 68-67, and then hit two free throws to take its only lead.
New Orleans started off with a 22-10 lead at the start of the game. The Mean Green responded with an 18-6 run to tie the game at 28. The Privateers quickly took back the lead and entered the half ahead, 72-69.
Davis led four players in double figures with 19 points. Jeffrey Simpson followed with 16 points and six rebounds. He also recorded two blocks, giving him 78 for his career, the second most by a NT player. Lionel Brown and Michael Sturns both came off the bench to score 11 points each.
New Orleans held the edge in field goal percentage (49.2 to 42.6 percent) and rebounds, 39 to 32.
North Texas returns to action with a doubleheader on Thursday, Jan. 12 when it faces Florida International at 7 pm.
- North Texas postgame notes
- North Texas postgame quotes
