SPORTS Colleges: North Texas Unbeaten Nebraska next up for optimistic Jones, Mean Green 08:30 PM CST on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle DENTON – North Texas men's basketball coach Johnny Jones said he believes there will be a different ending to what has been the same old story the last two seasons for the Mean Green. UNT has started quickly in each of the last two years only to stumble down the stretch, a fate the Mean Green is looking to avoid after a 5-1 start highlighted by wins over Charlotte and Rice on the road and Tulsa at home. The Mean Green will look to extend its early run tonight at Nebraska. "We have won on the road against high caliber competition," Jones said. "That makes this start more special and leads me to believe that there is something special about this team." UNT started 8-4 in each of the last two seasons, only to flounder down the stretch and fall in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament each time. The Mean Green was actually in first place in the Sun Belt's West Division midway through last season before losing eight of its last 10. UNT appeared as if it might hit a lull when it lost leading scorer Kendrick Davis after he broke a window in a hallway door in the Super Pit following a last-second loss to UT-Arlington on Nov. 15. Davis partially tore a tendon in his left wrist and is out six to seven weeks. Junior Michael Sturns has helped fill the void by averaging 19.7 points in the three games since Davis was injured. Keeping its early-season roll going could be a challenge against Nebraska and Aleks Maric. The 6-11 center is averaging 19.5 points and has led Nebraska to a 4-0 start. Jones said he would send several players at Maric in an attempt to slow him down tonight. "It's very exciting to start 5-1," junior forward Quincy Williams said. "We are aware of the way we finished last year. We know we have to keep pushing." E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com