University of North Texas Athletics
Cameron Postgame Notes & Quotes
11/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAMERON
Friday, November 13, 2009 / The Super Pit
GAME NOTES
*Junior forward George Odufuwa led the Mean Green to its season-opening win with his third career double-double effort, finishing with 24 rebounds and 12 points.
* Odufuwa's 24 rebounds were the fourth best in school history. They were the most rebounds grabbed in a single game by a Mean Green player since Jan. 18, 1978 when Ken Williams recorded a school-record 29 boards. Odufuwa becomes the ninth player in UNT basketball history to register 20 or more rebounds in a game.
* The Mean Green's 80-62 win over Cameron to open the 2009-2010 season also marks the 1,000th victory in North Texas men's basketball 92-year history.
*North Texas has now opened the season against Cameron for the fourth consecutive season and the Mean Green has won all of those contests. In the overall series between the two programs, the Mean Green is 6-0.
*The win also gives head coach Johnny Jones his ninth consecutive season-opening victory during his NT tenure. Jones's mark of nine straight season-opening wins is the best in school history-no other NT coach has won more than four consecutive season openers.
*North Texas is now 50-42 all-time in season openers.
* The Mean Green improved to 17-4 in season-opening games played at the Super Pit.
* Three other NT players scored in double figures, led by John White with a game-high 19 points, junior guard Richard Thomas with 12 and senior forward Eric Tramiel with 11.
*White connected on five of the Mean Green's eight field goals from three-point range, finishing 5-of-6 from behind the line. His six three-pointers ties his career high, which he set on December 5, 2007 against Texas.
* Thomas, a transfer from Garden City CC in Kansas connected on three FGs, including two from three-point range, to go along with a 4-of-5 effort from the free throw line to finish with his 12 points.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Johnny Jones
"We are always excited about playing the first game. I was very pleased with our play overall and how we were able to make adjustments and take away one of their great shooters in the first half. Our effort and hustle was very obvious."
On 1,000 Wins
"A great deal of hard work has gone into getting to this point. There have been great coaches and great players before us who paved the way for us to be here now. We are very happy to just be a part of something this historic."
On George Odufuwa (24 rebounds)
"I thought he did a tremendous job of crashing the boards. He works hard every day in practice and tonight's performance is an indication of what he is capable of doing. He is a very strong and capable post player and he will continue to get better as the season continues."
About Josh White
"Tonight he was very aggressive in looking for his shot. He is a very capable scorer and shoots at a very high percentage. His wrist is better and I think we are starting to see the Josh of two years ago."
Dominique Johnson injury status
"Had this been in the middle of conference play, he could have played. We have a great deal of basketball to play and we thought it best to rest him and have him completely healthy when he returns. He could be ready to go Wednesday night versus Texas-Arlington."
