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Posted

Men's basketball: Mean Green gets second shot to knock off Aggies

09:08 AM CST on Saturday, February 7, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones knows this is no time to let a loss linger.

UNT missed out on a chance to move into a tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division standings Thursday when the Mean Green lost to Louisiana-Lafayette.

UNT will have a chance to bounce back today in a game at New Mexico State.

"We are ready to play again," Jones said. "We know the importance of bouncing back. We are looking forward to it."

UNT (10-10, 5-3) remained in second place in the conference standings, but now has some company in Denver (13-7, 5-3). UNT can solidify its place just behind the Ragin’ Cajuns in the SBC standings with a win over New Mexico State (9-10, 3-5).

The Mean Green can also avenge a 70-67 loss to the Aggies in UNT’s league opener Jan. 10.

UNT has developed dramatically as a team since that loss. Senior forward Michael DeGrate and freshman guard Calvin Watson have moved into the starting lineup. Those changes have helped spark UNT offensively.

The Mean Green has scored at least 80 points in four of its last five games.

UNT had not yet developed the balanced scoring attack it now features the first time the Mean Green faced NMSU. Junior guard Leonard Hopkins scored 19 points to lead UNT the last time it faced the Aggies.

Senior forward Shawnson Johnson added 18 points, while senior guard Jerome Rogers scored 13. The problem UNT ran into was it didn’t have another player score more than six points.

All five of UNT’s starters are now averaging at least eight points a game, a total each reached against Lafayette.

That balance could pay off against NMSU, which has failed to live up to expectations. The Aggies were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt’s West Division, but are buried at the bottom of the league’s standings after losing five of their last seven games, including a 68-54 setback against Denver on Thursday.

Forward James Moore is averaging 15.2 points a game, while guard Duane John is adding 14.9 points a game. NMSU has struggled offensively despite having two players who rank among the Sun Belt’s top 10 scorers.

The Aggies rank ninth in the Sun Belt in scoring offense with an average of 66.2 points a game.

NMSU exceeded that total the first time it faced UNT because a pair of role players came up with impressive performances. James Felder scored 13 points, while Kelsey Crooks added 11.

The Aggies combined a solid night from Felder and Crooks with a typical performance from Moore and John to edge the Mean Green at the Super Pit.

UNT is hoping its newfound offensive balance will help it change its fortunes against the Aggies — not to mention put the Mean Green back on the winning track.

"We can get back on track against New Mexico State," Shawnson Johnson said. "We have to put this loss behind us."

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

Posted

>>09:08 AM CST on Saturday, February 7, 2004<<<

9:08AM CST seems a little early for a basketball game. ph34r.gif Bet those players are gonna have a hard time wakening up Saturday morning. But what do I know.

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