Mens BB..can equal last yrs wins tonight

[OldTimer]

Men's basketball: One season makes big difference for UNT

Mean Green can equal last year’s win total today

08:07 AM CST on Monday, January 19, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The North Texas men’s basketball team has nearly completed a journey back to where it ended the 2002-03 season.

The Mean Green has won six games entering a 7 p.m. contest tonight against Florida International at the Super Pit. UNT (6-8, 1-1) needs just one more win to match its season and Sun Belt Conference win totals from last season.

Shawnson Johnson

The Mean Green finished with a 7-21 record in its 2002-03 campaign, including a 2-13 record in Sun Belt Conference play.

A win over the Golden Panthers would not only allow UNT to reach a milestone, it would cap a successful four-game home stand. The Mean Green picked up its first win in Sun Belt Conference play Thursday when it topped Denver and is 2-1 in the home series.

"We wanted to go 4-0 and take care of our home floor," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "It’s important to win at home because it’s tough to win on the road."

UNT won’t reach its goal of a sweep, but it still can build momentum for a two-game road trip to Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State. A win would also keep the Mean Green in the thick of the race for the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division title.

UNT is among four teams in the division that have lost just one game in Sun Belt play in the early stages of the league’s season.

"It would set the tone for going on the road to go 2-1 at home," UNT junior forward Michael Jones said. "I hate that we lost to New Mexico State, but we are playing well right now."

UNT jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead in its game against Denver and held off the Pioneers’ rally for a 72-67 win.

Shawnson Johnson scored 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead UNT in its game against Denver. The senior forward is averaging 16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds a game.

No other UNT player is averaging double figures in scoring, but 10 players besides Johnson are posting at least four points a game.

Maintaining a balanced scoring attack could be critical against Florida International, a team UNT has played a highly competitive series with the last two years. Both of UNT’s last two games against the Golden Panthers have gone to overtime with each team winning one game.

UNT beat Florida International, 94-91, on the road last year for one of its two wins in Sun Belt play in a rare high-scoring game for the Golden Panthers. Florida International led the Sun Belt last season in scoring defense with an average of 64.4 points allowed a game.

"They are an excellent defensive team," Jones said. "They like to control the tempo of the game."

Florida International has not been quite as effective defensively this year and ranks ninth in the Sun Belt with an average of 70.6 points allowed a game.

Junior guard Carlos Morban leads the Golden Panthers with an average of 14.9 points a game.

UNT is hoping to limit Morban and continue its surge heading into the two-game road trip.

"It’s real important for us to get going heading into the road trip," UNT sophomore forward Ty Thomas said. "Building momentum at home can help a team bond and play better on the road."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.

Florida International (3-12, 0-3) at North Texas (6-8, 1-1), 7 p.m., Super Pit, Denton (KWRD-FM 100.7)