University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Brooms Out For Sam Houston State
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Listen Live
DENTON, Texas (12/03/08) - December of 1998 was the last time a non-conference opponent won at Sam Houston State’s Bernard Johnson Coliseum before the Mean Green ended that streak just two weeks ago. With that loss fresh on their minds, the Bearkats roll into Denton looking to spoil North Texas’ run of 17 wins in their last 19 home games. Action from the Super Pit tips off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.
Led by Josh White’s 19 points, North Texas snapped the Bearkats 45-game stand with a 76-71 victory on Dec. 20. North Texas got double-digit scoring performances from White, George Odufawa (15 points) and Dominique Johnson (16 points). White, who played with a sprained left thumb, scored 14 second half points and made clutch free throws down the stretch to help seal the win. Odufuwa also had 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double.
North Texas is 32-27 all-time against Sam Houston after knocking off the Bearkats on Nov. 20. The Mean Green was a member of the Southland from 1982-1996 and posted a 100-104 conference mark in that span. NT is 223-168 all-time versus current Southland Conference teams.
In Sam Houston’s last outing, Ashton Mitchell posted a career high 15 assists and Corey Allmond scored 22 points as the Bearkats ended a three-game losing streak with an 84-65 victory over Wright State. Sam Houston hit 60 percent from floor, including 6-of-12 from 3-point.
What To Watch For
Eric Tramiel unofficially ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage with a 78.3 percent mark from the floor. Tramiel has hit 18-of-23 shots through six games, but falls just short of the lofty 5.0 field goals made per game to appear on the official NCAA statistics.
A team not accustomed to low scoring affairs, North Texas’ 51 points at Houston on Saturday night are the least by a Mean Green squad in nearly a decade. The last time NT scored less was in a 68-48 loss to Princeton on Dec. 5, 1998. The Mean Green is among the Sun Belt leaders with a 77.7 point per game average.
Johnny Jones and the Mean Green have handled tough road venues well over the last few seasons. NT has begun the road slate at 2-2 or better for a third straight season, and for the fourth time in the Jones era. Prior to Jones arrival, the last time North Texas started at least 2-2 on the road was in 1981-82.
NT’s 30.0 field goal percentage ties for the third lowest of the Johnny Jones era, but good news is on the horizon. In the 24 previous games where the Mean Green shot below 35 percent, NT rebounded to shoot 47.4 percent and went 14-10 in the subsequent games.
George Odufuwa has been the Mean Green’s muscle in the middle, posting double-figure rebounds in four of NT’s six outings. Odufuwa is currently tied for 40th in the nation in rebounding with a 9.8 per game average.
