University of North Texas
Arkansas State
Red Wolves' Hot Shooting Downs Mean Green Basketball
1/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
DENTON, Texas (1/16/10) - Behind 59 percent shooting, the Arkansas State men's basketball team defeated the Mean Green, 83-70, on Saturday night at the Super Pit.
The Red Wolves sweep the season series against North Texas and extend the overall series lead to 18-15. The West Division leader extends its record to 10-7 overall and 4-2 in the Sun Belt, while the Mean Green falls to 11-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
The Red Wolves opened the second half on a 10-4 run to go ahead by 12 points, 48-36, and never looked back. ASU led by double figures for the majority of the second period.
North Texas struggled shooting, going 1-for-7, to start the second half. The Mean Green went 3-for-15 from three-point range with all three coming in the second half.
George Odufuwa posted his fifth double-double of the season with a team-leading 16 points and 12 rebounds. In his second game back from a wrist injury, Eric Tramiel scored 12 points. Tristan Thompson and Shannon Shorter also scored in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Josh White, the team's scoring leader, was held to five points.
North Texas went 0-6 from the three-point line until Thompson hit one at 14:23 in the second half. Richard Thomas followed with one of his own to cut the Red Wolves lead to 10 points, 52-42.
North Texas cut the lead to seven points, 57-64, but Troy responded with a three-pointer to stay ahead by 10 points. Seven points was the closest that the Red Wolves would let the Mean Green get to the lead. ASU extended its lead to as many as 19 points, 81-62, late in the game.
North Texas held a 16-12 lead to start off the game before ASU went on a 20-12 run, taking a 36-24 advantage with 3:45 left in the first half. The Mean Green scored eight of the next 10 points to enter half behind by six, 38-32.
Brandon Reed led four Red Wolves in double figures with 18 points.
The Mean Green returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 21 when it faces South Alabama at 7 p.m. at the Super Pit.
