DENTON (12/16/04) Four players scored in double figures to lead the North Texas men’s basketball team to a 95-73 victory against Southern on Thursday night in the Super Pit.
The Mean Green tied the series with Southern, 1-1, after losing last year to the Jaguars in Baton Rouge. NT’s record stands at 5-3, which is its best through eight games since the 1994-95 season.
Seniors Leonard Hopkins and Michael Jones combined for 18 points in NT’s 29-7 run at the start of the game. A free throw by Jones put the Mean Green ahead by 20 points, 31-11 with 7:24 left in the first half. Hopkins finished the game with a game-high 20 points, his eighth game in double figures. Jones scored 11-of-his-13 points in the first half.
North Texas shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and held Southern to 10-of-26 shooting (38.5). The Mean Green also forced 13 turnovers in the first period.
Isaac Hines forced four of NT’s 12 steals in the game, tying a personal best. The junior point guard also posted 10 points, six rebounds and dished out three assists.
Freshman Quincy Williams, in his first start of the season, gave North Texas its largest lead of the game, 73-40, after a layup with 12:05 left in the game. Southern would cut the lead to 19 points, 90-71, but was unable to get any closer.
North Texas returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 22 when it hosts Southeast Missouri State at 7 p.m.
