DENTON (2/24/05) Freshman guard Michael Sturns hit two-of-three free throws with time expired to give the North Texas men’s basketball team a 74-73 victory against New Orleans on Thursday night at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green (14-12, 6-8 Sun Belt) swept the season series with New Orleans (13-15, 7-7 Sun Belt) and extended its record at home this season to 9-5.
With North Texas behind 73-72 with four seconds remaining in the game, Sturns took the inbounds pass, dribbled down court and was fouled at the buzzer as he tried to shoot from behind the three-point arc. With time expired, the freshman guard missed the first free throw, tied the game with his second and gave North Texas the win with the third basket.
North Texas went on an 11-0 run late in the game to take its largest lead, 71-62, with 1:09 left on the clock. Senior Leonard Hopkins scored eight points in the run, including his fifth three-pointer of the game. New Orleans scored 11 of the final 14 points in the last minute of the game, including a Jacob Manning three-pointer to put the Privateers ahead by one with four seconds on the clock.
Until the final minute, neither team led by more than five points in the game. Sophomore Calvin Watson gave North Texas its first lead of the second half, 52-50, with a layup at 7:43. A three-pointer by Watson put NT ahead by four, 60-56, before Ben Elias scored the next four points to tie the game for the ninth time in the half. After Bo McCaleb scored the next basket for New Orleans, the Privateers would remain scoreless for more than two minutes.
Hopkins tied a game high with 24 points in the contest. He has scored at least 20 points in 10 games this season. Junior Jeffrey Simpson and Watson followed him with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Junior Isaac Hines pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in the game.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 26 against South Alabama in its final home game of the regular season.
