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MOBILE, Ala. (3/09/08) The Sun Belt’s Freshman and Newcomer of the Year will face off against the league’s Player of the Year when North Texas’ Josh White and Collin Dennis take on Courtney Lee and Western Kentucky in the SBC Tournament quarterfinals at 9 p.m.
No. 6 seed North Texas (20-10, 10-8) began its Sun Belt Conference title defense with an 85-63 win over No. 11 Arkansas State in first round action on Wednesday. Now the Mean Green focuses its attention on No. 3 Western Kentucky (24-6, 16-2).
Lee is considered by many to be the Sun Belt’s top pro prospect and was named the league’s Player of the Year after finishing second in the SBC in scoring with 20.9 points per game. North Texas swept the Hilltoppers last season, but fell 94-84 in the only meeting of 2007-08. Lee poured in 31 points and Tyrone Brazelton added 21 for the WKU win. Josh White led four Mean Green players in double figures with 22.
Last year, North Texas became the first No. 5 seed to win the Sun Belt Tournament since Alabama-Birmingham in 1984. The Mean Green knocked off No. 12 Louisiana Lafayette, No. 4 ULM, No. 9 Middle Tennessee and No. 2 Arkansas State to claim the crown at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La.
North Texas owns a 6-6 all-time mark in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after cruising to last year’s title. The Mean Green joined the SBC for the 2000-01 season.
All North Texas games can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
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North Texas picked up its 20th win in defeating Arkansas State, giving the Mean Green its second straight 20-win season. The last time NT had back-to-back 20-win campaigns was 1976-77 and 1977-78. This is only the sixth 20-win season in school history.
With six assists against Arkansas State on Wednesday, Ben Bell became just the sixth player in school history to tally back-to-back 100-assist seasons.
The Mean Green secured its school-record 15th home win of the year in topping Arkansas State on Wednesday. This 2007-08 squad passed the 1975-76 and 1977-78 who piled up 14 victories at the Super Pit. North Texas has combined for 28 wins at the Super Pit over the last two years, the most in a two-year stretch in school history.
Josh White was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and Collin Dennis the Newcomer of the Year. Both players were named to the Second Team All-Sun Belt as well.
