University of North Texas
[3] Western Kentucky
North Texas Tops WKU To Advance To SBC Final
3/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - North Texas men's basketball advanced to its second straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship when it took down Western Kentucky 81-62 in the semifinals at Summit Arena Monday night.
Senior Tristan Thompson, a night after dropping 36 on Florida Atlantic, scored 28 points, 18 in the first half, for North Texas (22-10) against the Hilltoppers (16-16) to total 80 points through three games at the 2011 SBC Tournament.
Thompson broke Cedric Maxwell's Sun Belt Record of 202 free throws made in a single season and set the SBC Tournament record this evening as he went 6-of-9 from the stripe. He now has 206 makes on the season and 31 through three games of the SBC Tournament.
Both teams came out of the locker room on fire to start the game. Through five and a half minutes of play, WKU trailed the Mean Green 18-11, who shot 88.9 percent from the field and had two players with eight points each.
The dog fight continued throughout the half, with each team going on a run just to give up one minutes later and the Mean Green led 40-39 at the break.
The second half was a different story. North Texas never let its foot off the gas, going on a 20-8 run to open the half and pull away from the Hilltoppers for good.
The Mean Green shot 60.9 percent from the field in the second half and hit 11 of its 15 free throws.
George Odufuwa fell a rebound short of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards while fellow senior Josh White nabbed and 18 point, seven assist outing.
Oklahoma transfer Juan Pattillo led WKU in both rebounds and points with a 20 point, 10 board night.
The Mean Green will play the winner of Middle Tennessee and UALR for the Sun Belt Conference Championship and automatic NCAA Tournament bid on Tuesday night at Summit Arena. Tip-Off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
