University of North Texas Athletics
Isiah, FIU Look To End NT's Home Win Streak
1/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
North Texas (13-3, 2-1 SBC) vs. FIU (8-7, 3-0 SBC)
Denton, Texas • The Super Pit (10,500)
Jan. 13, 2010 • 7:00 p.m.
Radio: KWRD 100.7-FM, KNTU 88.1-FM • Hank Dickenson (PBP)
TV: None
Live Video
Live Stats
Series: NT leads 9-3 • Last: NT 68 at FIU 66 (2/6/10)
Game Notes
DENTON, Texas - North Texas head coach Johnny Jones can tell you all about his first meeting with Isiah Thomas way back in 1981. Jones, a freshman at LSU at the time, had his Tigers cruising into the Final Four before Thomas and the Indiana Hoosiers ended their dream season.
Thomas went on to win the national title and the tournament's MVP award, as well as the No. 2 pick in the following year's NBA Draft. Thomas would garner 12 All-Star appearances and earn induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame, and now leads NT's next opponent, FIU, into the Super Pit on Thursday.
Jones and Thomas' squads met twice last season with the road team winning each game. This year, both teams enter Thursday's matchup red hot in what might just be a preview of two of the Sun Belt's top teams.
North Texas has won 15 straight home games, which checks in as the nation's 9th longest home-court stand. This stretch also ranks as the third longest in the 93-year history of Mean Green basketball.
Tristan Thompson and Josh White will become the winningest players in school history with NT's next victory. The four-year seniors have both been apart of 77 total wins, which ties with a pair of their former teammates, Justin Howerton and Harold Stewart.
FIU is one of the Sun Belt's hottest teams with a 3-0 mark in conference play. Only two other Sun Belt teams are undefeated in league play so far; Denver and FAU.
In the last meeting with FIU, North Texas trailed by seven points with less than five minutes remaining, but used an 11-0 run to down the Golden Panthers 68-66 at US Century Bank arena. Tristan Thompson led four NT players in double figures with 19 points, while George Odufuwa tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards. Marvin Roberts led FIU with 16 points.
FIU is led by Highland CC transfer Eric Frederick, who is averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The junior was named an NJCAA All-American as a freshman after averaging 19.5 points in leading Highland to a ninth place finish nationally.
