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HOUSTON, Texas (12/4/09) - The last men's basketball meeting between North Texas and Rice came down to the last shot. Morris Almond poured in 38 for the Owls, but the Mean Green punched back with 26 from Calvin Watson and 21 from Michael Sturns in a 71-69 win back in 2006. Three years later, the Texas rivals meet again at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Collin Mangrum is the only player on this year's roster to play in that 2006 matchup with the Owls, and that was for just eight minutes. Now, Josh White, Tristan Thompson, Eric Tramiel & Co. get their chance to extend North Texas' hold on the Rice rivalry to an 8-3 NT edge.
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North Texas cruised past the University of the Southwest in a rare weekday noon game, which saw hundreds of area school children come out to enjoy Mean Green hoops. Shannon Shorter enjoyed his first career double-double in the 91-62 victory.
Rice is coming off a tough 85-64 loss at a game Harvard squad. Tamir Jackson is gaining a reputation as a steals artist for the Owls, already tallying 16 on the young season.
Quick Hitters
• This will be the 11th meeting between NT and Rice, and the Mean Green holds a 7-3 edge in the series that dates back to 1932. This will be just the second meeting in the Johnny Jones era (2001 to present), with North Texas taking the only other game 71-69 at Autry Court on Nov. 18, 2006.
• Josh White became the 12th player in NT history to notch 100 career 3-pointers. White nailed 2-of-4 from deep, and is shooting 46.2 percent from 3-point this season.
• With the win over USW, North Texas head coach Johnny Jones snagged his 130th win at NT, and is just four wins shy of tying Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Blakeley on the Mean Green coaching list.
• Shannon Shorter broke out against USW on Wednesday with 11 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. The junior is the first North Texas guard to post a double-double since Chris Davis tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds versus New Mexico State on Feb. 1, 2003 - a span of 195 games.
