DENTON (2/1/07) The North Texas men’s basketball team recorded its largest conference margin of victory in 51 years in a 98-57 win against Troy on Thursday night at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green (15-7, 6-5 Sun Belt) is now 3-0 against the Trojans (9-14, 4-8) and owns a 10-1 record at home this season. With its 15 victories this season, North Texas ties the win total in the Johnny Jones era and records the most wins since the 1990-91 squad tallied 17. The Mean Green is also guaranteed a winning season.
“This is the most complete game we have played all season,” said head coach Johnny Jones. “I am really happy with our play on both ends of the floor and to have 15 wins already this season is a credit to everyone involved with the team.”
Seniors Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis led the team with 19 points each. Junior Keith Wooden joined the duo in double figures with 12 points.
Sophomore Justin Howerton came off the bench to score eight points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. As a team, North Texas out-rebounded Troy, 52-31, including a 40-19 advantage on the defensive boards. The 52 rebounds was the second-most this season for the Mean Green.
The 41-point margin of victory is the largest this season and the 98 points is also a season high. The last time that North Texas defeated a conference opponent by more than 41 points was during the 1955-56 season. On Feb. 20, 1955, North Texas beat Trinity by a margin of 46 points, 101-55.
The Trojans struggled offensively, shooting 26.2 percent from the field. That shooting percentage was the lowest North Texas has held an opponent to this season.
The Mean Green shot 57.4 percent from the field, its third-highest percentage this season. NT hit 8-of-18 three-point attempts. Davis and Watson led the way, both hitting 3-for-6 from behind the arc. NT also dished out a season-high 21 assists, including a six by Michael Sturns.
Troy entered tonight’s game ranked 12th in the NCAA and first in the conference in three-point field goals (9.4). Against North Texas, the Trojans were 7-for-24 from behind the arc.
The Mean Green led by 12 points at halftime and extended that lead as the game wore on. North Texas raced out on an 11-5 run to start off the second half, extending its lead to 20 points, 55-35, with 15:38 left in the game. The Mean Green continued its hot shooting, pulling ahead by as many as 30 points, 75-45, after a Davis steal and layup at 8:32.
Jonathan Jackson ended the game with a layup and a free throw to give North Texas its final score and largest lead of the game. The three points was a season high for Jackson. Andrew Reinking also posted a season high with six points in five minutes of play.
North Texas continues its homestand with a match-up against Western Kentucky on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 pm in the Super Pit.
