University of North Texas
Texas Tech
Jones' 31 Not Enough In Comeback Bid At Tech
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
Postgame Notes
LUBBOCK, Texas – Chris Jones and the North Texas basketball team had Texas Tech on the ropes after a furious comeback attempt, but it wasn’t enough in a 69-64 loss at United Spirit Arena on Wednesday night.
Down by as many as a 13 points midway through the second half, Jones rallied the Mean Green (1-1) with a scoring performance for the ages. The freshman racked up 31 points – the most ever by a freshman in the Johnny Jones era – none bigger than his runner with a minute remaining that made it a one-point game.
Down three with 25 seconds left, Jordan Williams had a look at the tying 3-pointer but it rimmed out. NT forged a 23-8 edge in points off turnovers and scored 40 points in the paint.
“Chris had an outstanding night against a great defensive team,” said North Texas head coach Johnny Jones. “He has a knack of getting his teammates involved, but tonight we just didn’t have quite enough to get the win.”
A year to the day after knocking off Texas Tech at the Super Pit the Red Raiders (2-0) got their revenge thanks to a cold-shooting spell in the second half. NT hit just a single field goal in the first 11 minutes of the second frame, and the Red Raiders used that gap, and a 44.9 percent shooting mark of their own to open up the close contest.
For a second straight game North Texas forced a dozen steals, three of which came from a Big 12 veteran. Former Oklahoma State standout Roger Franklin led the Mean Green with a trio of steals, while Jones racked up his fifth and sixth steals of the young season.
Down 5-0 to the Red Raiders early, Jones fired off five straight points – three of which came on an “and-one” layup – to claw NT back into the game. Jacob Holmen gave the Mean Green its first lead moments later on a turnaround hook shot.
Jordan Williams and Jones quieted the United Spirit crowd and ignited the Mean Green bench with a fast-break alley-oop. The dunk spurred a 6-2 run that brought NT back to within a point at 18-17 with nine minutes remaining in the first.
The Mean Green was outstanding from the free throw line after shooting just 60 percent in the season opener. NT hit its first nine attempts, and finished the night 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) from the stripe.
A cold shooting spell caught up with North Texas, but opportunistic defense and the ability to get to the free throw line kept things close. NT shot 36 percent from the floor in the opening frame, but tallied seven steals and scored 15 points off of them. NT was 9-of-10 from the stripe, and went into the break down 37-34.
North Texas will take on Metroplex rival UT Arlington on Nov. 22 at Texas Hall. Tip off from Arlington, Texas is slated for 7 p.m.
