Chattanooga, Tenn. (12/29/04) While North Texas senior guard Leonard Hopkins scored 21 points to become the 16th player in school history to record 1,000 points in a career, the Mean Green (6-4) couldn’t overcome a tough shooting night in a 72-56 setback to Chattanooga (6-2) in the first round of the Dr. Pepper Classic Tournament on Wednesday.
North Texas found itself down nine points (16-7) 11 minutes into the game and seven points (29-36) by halftime and while NT scored the first bucket of the second half to pull within 31-36, it couldn’t get any closer the rest of the way.
The Mean Green hit 41 percent of its shots in the first half, but connected on just 23 percent of its second half shots. North Texas also hit just 6-of-29 shots from beyond the arc and took just 11 free throws.
Hopkins was the only NT player that scored in double figures, but Michael Jones and Michael Sturns each added nine points. Sophomore standout Calvin Watson got into foul trouble early in the first half and was held scoreless for the first time this season.
The Mean Green forced Chattanooga into 22 turnovers, but the Mocs hit 44 percent of its shots and grabbed eight more rebounds than North Texas.
The Mocs had three players score at least 10 points, including Alphonso Pugh with a team-high 20.
North Texas had a three-game winning streak snapped and will now face Tennessee-Martin on Thursday at 5 p.m. (CST) in its final game at the Dr. Pepper Classic Tournament.
