Box Score
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (1/27/08) Kevin Kanaskie’s late 3-point barrage was too much for North Texas, as the Mean Green basketball team fell to Middle Tennessee, 69-60, at the Murphy Center on Sunday.
The Blue Raiders (8-11, 5-4) were 1-11 from deep before Kansaskie came alive, hitting four 3-pointers, including nine consecutive MTSU points, to give Middle Tennessee a late three-point lead it would never relinquish.
Kanaskie’s 3-pointers triggered a 20-7 run Middle Tennessee run to finish the game. North Texas (12-7, 3-5) has now dropped three straight games for the first time since Feb. of 2006.
Josh White bounced back from last weekend’s injury with a team-high 16 points. He led three Mean Green players in double figures, including Dez Willingham’s 14 points. Willingham has now reached double figures for a third straight game.
North Texas seemed to weather Middle Tennessee’s run early in the second half. Demetrius Green scored 13 straight Blue Raider points to make it a one point contest, but North Texas answered with a Collin Dennis 3-pointer and a couple of Keith Wooden layups. Green finished with a game-high 23 points.
Out of the gate, Willingham sparked a fast-break 11-0 run in the game’s opening five minutes. The senior posted seven quick points off a pair of Mean Green blocks to give North Texas an 11-4 lead.
White made it an eight point lead with just under eight minutes left in the half with a pair of circus-like layups. The freshman finished a three-point play after getting fouled by Darren Avery on a drive under the hoop.
North Texas was on its game defensively in the opening frame. The Mean Green forced 12 Middle Tennessee turnovers and racked up eight first-half steals to head into the break with a 31-29 lead.
Justin Howerton earned his first start of the season, and the fourth of his career.
The Mean Green returns to action on Thursday at home against the Sun Belt’s top squad, South Alabama. Tip time against the Jaguars is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
