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University of North Texas
Middle Tennessee
Mean Green's Winning Streak Snapped
1/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The North Texas men's basketball team, one of the hottest teams in basketball, had its six-game winning streak snapped by Middle Tennessee in a 78-71 loss at the Murphy Center. The Blue Raiders (6-9, 1-1) also ended the Mean Green's 13-game Sun Belt Conference winning streak.
Josh White led the Mean Green scoring efforts with 15 points, while George Odufuwa posted a game-high 10 rebounds despite playing just two minutes in the first half.
Down 43-30 early in the second half, the Mean Green (13-3, 2-1) began to battle back. North Texas used an 8-0 run capped off by a three-point play from Dominique Johnson to make it 43-38 with 15:35 left in the game.
North Texas continued its comeback as a White 3-pointer made it a one-point MTSU lead at 52-51 with 11 minutes left. Middle Tennessee pushed its lead back to seven points at 62-55 on a Jimmy Oden 3-pointer with 9:01 remaining.
North Texas had one final push as free throws by Shannon Shorter cut the MTSU lead back to two-points at 68-66 with 3:57. Middle Tennessee had one final answer and capped the game off with a Jason Jones basket with 53 seconds left to take a 75-67 lead.
The Mean Green raced out to an early 9-1 lead on Middle Tennessee in the first five minutes of the game. Tristan Thompson had a three-point play and Blue Raiders head coach Kermit Davis was whistled for a technical foul to give the Mean Green the early edge.
The Blue Raiders answered back with a 10-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 19-16 lead with 9:25 left in the first half. Middle Tennessee held North Texas without a field goal in the first half for nearly 10 minutes to extend their lead to 33-23 with 1:30 left in the half.
A White 3-pointer ended the drought but the Blue Raiders carried a 37-28 lead into the break. North Texas was held to a season low 29 percent shooting in the first half and only six field goals. White finished the game with a team-high 15 points for North Texas.
North Texas has eight days between games they will not return to action until next Thursday, January 13 as they host FIU.
