Box Score
LAFAYETTE, La. (1/7/10) - North Texas mounted a strong comeback attempt, but Tyren Johnson and Louisiana-Lafayette were too much for the Mean Green in a 74-72 loss on Thursday at the Cajun Dome.
Down 34-22 at the half, North Texas (9-6, 2-3) guard play took control after the break and whittled the ULL lead to just two points, thanks to a 22-foot 3-pointer from Josh White with 11.8 seconds left.
White and Richard Thomas led an NT attack that scored 50 points and shot 56.5 percent in the second, but ULL's Randell Daigle iced the game with a pair of free throws before NT's Shannon Shorter hit a layup at the buzzer.
Johnson and Louisiana-Lafayette (5-10, 2-2 Sun Belt) held off the NT comeback attempt with four timely 3-pointers in the game's final 10 minutes to preserve the win. The senior posted a game-high 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, leading three ULL players in double figures.
Playing without numerous key players, North Texas was able to get its high-low game working. George Odufuwa notched his fourth double-double of the year with a team-high 15 points and 12 boards.
Shannon Shorter wasn't far off his second career double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds, while White and Thomas each tallied 14 points. Tristan Thompson also reached double-figures with 11 points.
ULL jumped out to a 12-2 lead thanks to some quick help-defense and a couple of fast break layups from Johnson. The Ragin' Cajuns registered six first-half steals, and NT went 6:38 into the game without a field goal.
Returning from an injury, Thomas vaulted the Mean Green back into the game with a 3-point play the hard way. The junior drove the right baseline off a great dish from Ben Knox and drew a foul while hitting the layup. His free throw brought the game to within three at 12-9 with 11 minutes left in the half.
Unfortunately that's as close as NT would come until the closing seconds, as Johnson responded by scoring eight points of an 11-0 Cajuns run that spanned nearly five minutes. North Texas went into the break trailing 34-22 after shooting 34.8 percent from the floor.
North Texas will return to action on Saturday against New Orleans. Tip off from the Super Pit is scheduled for 4 p.m.
