NORTH TEXAS vs. SOUTH ALABAMA Thursday, January 21, 2010 / The Super Pit
GAME NOTES / QUOTES
- The inside muscle of George Odufuwa and Eric Tramiel sparked the Mean Green to its victory over USA. Odufuwa and Tramiel both registered a double-double in the game: Odufuwa with 16 points and 16 rebounds while Tramiel finished with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. It marked the first time UNT has had two players with double-double performances in the same game since March 3, 2007 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament when Quincy Williams (14 pts., 10 reb) and Harold Stewart (16-11) pulled it off.
- Tramiel, in just his third game back from a wrist injury, scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting. He also connected on 5-of-6 from the free throw line. His 13 rebounds marked the first time this season he's grabbed 10 or more boards.
- It was Tramiel's first double-double of the season and the fifth of his Mean Green career.
- Tramiel also ended with a team-leading two blocked shots.
- Odufuwa connected on 6-of-9 field goals and went 4-for-4 at the line to put up his 16 points. It was his 13th game this season in double figures. He's now scored in double digits in five of his last seven outings.
- The last time two Mean Green players have grabbed double-figure rebounds in the same game was one year ago when Odufuwa and Kedrick Hogans each pulled down 10 rebounds at Indiana State on 11-23-08.
- Five Mean Green players finished in double-figure scoring -- the first time to happen since three weeks ago when five UNT players scored in double figures in a loss at Louisiana-Lafayette.
- Tristan Thompson (15 points), Josh White (14) and Shannon Shorter (10) were the other Mea n Green players to reach double figures. For Thompson, it was his 12th game in double figures this season. For White, it marked the 15th time this season he's produced double figures.
- Shorter, a junior transfer, has now scored in double figures in each of his last two games. For the season he's contributed double figures 6 times.
- Senior walk-on Antwone Matlock, in just his fourth game-action of the season, played a career-high eight minutes.
- North Texas went on a 15-4 scoring run in the final 6:20 of the first half to tie the game at halftime, 38-38. It marked the first time this season that the Mean Green have been tied with an opponent at the break.
Johnny Jones Quotes
"We knew this would be a tough game. South Alabama is very talented basketball team, having beaten the likes of Florida and Arkansas on the road. I was very excited about the way our team kept its poise and found a way to get back in the game after being down by 11 in the first half. I thought we showed great character in being able to tie the game up going into the half. We were able to limit their second chance opportunities which allowed us to get out in the open floor and run."
"Our post players Eric Tramiel and George Odufuwa played extremely well as they both registered double-double (scoring and rebounding) for us tonight. I thought they were equally as tough defensively. We thought we might be able to some things on the inside with them. Our perimeter players Josh (White) and Tristan (Thompson) did a great job of stretching their defense which opened up the lanes and allowed those guys to have some opportunities inside. This was a total team effort. We got an excellent floor game from Shannon (Shorter) with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. He (Shorter) played very well defensively also. He had tough assignment, but he handled it very well. I thought we got quality minutes from Antwone Matlock and Cameron Spencer. They were called upon early and they did not disappoint."
"This league is very competitive on a nightly basis. Each team knows their opponents tendencies and offensive and defensive sets which makes for very interesting nights.
