Thursday, February 21, 2008

Men’s basketball: UNT 72, Louisiana-Monroe 40

By Pegasus News wire

The baskets came early and often as the North Texas men’s basketball team used a big first-half to blowout ULM 72-40 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum to win its third straight game. The Mean Green outscored the Warhawks 34-13 in the first half, allowing only three first half field goals as North Texas never looked back.

“We came out tonight focused with a lot of intensity and I was really pleased with the way our guys responded on the defensive end,” said North Texas coach Johnny Jones.

The Mean Green used a stifling defense to dominate the Warhawks and hold them to just 28 percent shooting. The 40 points allowed by North Texas are the fewest allowed against a Division I opponent since February 7, 1994 when the Mean Green held Sam Houston State to 41 points.

The loss was the worst in the history of Fant-Ewing Coliseum for ULM.

After trailing 7-5 in the first five minutes of the first half, North Texas (17-9, 8-7) erupted for a 12-2 run to up their lead to 17-9 with 9:36 remaining. ULM (10-17, 4-11) ended the run briefly with a 3-pointer with 8:57 left in the half, but that would be their final field goal of the first half.

The Mean Green ended the half with a 17-1 run to take a commanding lead that they would not relinquish.

The second half started like the first as North Texas opened up with a 25-10 run to push its lead to 36 points at 59-23 with 11:20 left.

Four players scored in double figures as Quincy Williams led the way with his 12th career double-double. Williams had a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds.

North Texas is back in action on senior night Saturday evening when they host Arkansas State at the Super Pit at 7 p.m.

Source: UNT

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