University of North Texas
UT Arlington
Thompson Scores Career High In Victory
11/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
DENTON, Texas (11/30/10) - Tristan Thompson scored a career-high 29 points to lead the North Texas men's basketball team to an 87-83 victory against UTA on Tuesday night at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green improves to 5-1 and has now won nine straight games at home. UTA falls to 5-2 and trails in the series with the Mean Green, 30-21. North Texas has won the last two games against the Mavericks.
North Texas held a 20-point lead against the Mavericks, 59-39, before UTA ran off on a 32-10 run to take a 71-69 lead at 7:13. Thompson hit free-throws to give the lead back to the Mean Green for good.
Shannon Shorter hit a big three-pointer at 2:49 to give the Mean Green breathing room of four points, 79-74. The Mavericks were forced to foul, and the Mean Green made eight straight free throws to seal the win.
After shooting a school-record 81.8 percent from three-point range in the Mean Green's last game against Texas State, North Texas continued its hot shooting from downtown against UTA. The Mean Green combined for 12 three-pointers after making nine against the Bobcats.
Thompson led all scorers with 29 points, his third straight 20-plus point game. He was 7-for-13 from the field, 4-for-9 from three-point range and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. All of his free throws were made in the second half. He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
George Odufuwa recorded his 20th career double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The senior has posted three double-doubles this season.
Josh White joined his classmates in double-figures with 19 points, his fourth game this season in double figures. He hit five three-pointers in the game, four in the first half. Shorter and Dominique Johnson all scored in double figures with 10 and 11 points, respectively. Johnson tied a career high with seven assists.
Lamarcus Reed hit big three-pointers for the Mavericks. He hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Mavericks its first lead of the game, 71-69, at 7:13 in the second half. With 25 seconds left on the clock, he hit another three that cut the UTA lead to two points.
White and Thompson combined for five three-pointers in the opening 11 minutes to give North Texas an early 23-15 lead. The senior duo connected on nine three-pointers in the Mean Green's last game against Texas State.
In the first half, the Mean Green shot 66 percent from three-point range, hitting eight from behind the arc, propelling the home team to a 45-29 advantage at the half. White continued the three-point barrage in the second half, making his fifth of the night with the first basket of the second stanza.
The Mean Green made 27 free throws, including 13 in the final eight minutes. UTA was 7-for-10 from the free-throw line, and 12-for-37 from behind the arc.
North Texas returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 2 when it faces Grambling State at 7 p.m.
