University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Men Host FAU After Epic Super Pit Battles
1/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON, Texas (1/16/09) - North Texas followed the longest game in Super Pit history with the largest comeback in the facility’s 36-year history. Now, North Texas must focus its attention on the first of five Sun Belt East Division opponents when Florida Atlantic invades the Super Pit. Saturday’s action begins at 7 p.m. and can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network. What To Watch For You are guaranteed to see an exciting game if North Texas is on the floor. This year, the Mean Green have been in seven games decided by five points or less, three Sun Belt overtime games (including a school-record 3OT game versus Arkansas State), and now the largest comeback win in Super Pit history. Down 21 points to Denver on Thursday night, NT took 19:04 to claw its way back into the lead on the strength of a 21-7 run. The win tied last year’s 21-point comeback at New Mexico State (Dec. 1, 2007) for the largest come-from-behind win in school history. Collin Dennis was the catalyst in the school-record comebacks against Denver and New Mexico State. Against Denver, the senior notched a team-high nine of his 14 points in the 19 minute comeback effort. At New Mexico State, Dennis exploded for 19 of his 21 points in a span of 6:25 to single-handedly lift NT to the win over the Aggies. FAU has fallen in its last nine games, due in large part to the loss of forward Carlos Monroe. A two-time All-Sun Belt selection and the leading rebounder in FAU history, Monroe was averaging 15 points and 9.5 rebounds in his two career games against NT. FAU was picked to finish fourth in Sun Belt East in the annual preseason coaches poll. North Texas has regained its swagger on the boards over its last four games. The Mean Green has out-rebounded each of its last four opponents, and holds a +5.5 rebounding edge over that span, which has led to 10.8 second-chance points per game. An aggressive squad on the offensive glass, North Texas is averaging 13 offensive rebounds over the last four games.
