BB notes, added home game Dec. 10

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Men’s basketball

Jones could use freshmen early on in 2005-06 season

UNT coach Johnny Jones has maintained through the offseason that he had one of his best recruiting seasons last year.

If early returns are any indication UNT’s last recruiting class could make an impact early in the year.

“Those guys have continued to impress,” Jones said. “Harold Stewart has done a tremendous job, has moved up the charts and is backing up Quincy Williams at power forward. Justin Howerton has continued to get better and so has Harold Edwards.

“We have guys who are very capable who will have to get acclimated very quickly.”

Stewart scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in UNT’s first exhibition game against Abilene Christian, while Edwards scored three points. Howerton added two points and four rebounds.

Former Sanger standout Chris Higgs chipped in an assist.

UNT had several freshmen who contributed last year, including Michael Sturns and Quincy Williams. Sturns averaged 4.3 points a game and added 39 assists, while Williams started eight games and averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds a game.

UNT to face Nicholls State at home after schedule change

UNT has picked up an extra home date in December (Sat., Dec. 10) when its game against Nicholls State was moved from Thibodaux, La., to Denton.

The switch will give the Mean Green five home games in December.

Women’s basketball

Jacksonfares well in debut after missing full season

Redshirt freshman Amber Jackson made a solid impression in her debut with the Mean Green in a loss to the Oklahoma Flyers last week.

Jackson scored nine points and blocked two shots in UNT’s second exhibition game of the season. She sat out the Mean Green’s first exhibition of the year and missed all of last season with a knee injury.

“Amber responded very well,” UNT coach Tina Slinker said. “You forget it’s her first college game. She struggled a little defensively, but we know she will be able to score for us.”

Slinker said that players normally need at least half of a season to get back to form after major surgery, a process Jackson is going through to open the season.

The 6-2 freshman will open the season at the power forward spot, but Slinker said she would like to move Jackson to small forward later in her career to take advantage of her unusual combination of size and quickness.

Ajekwu aggravates shoulder injury, will continue to play

UNT junior post Mia Ajekwu aggravated a shoulder injury that forced her to miss the last 13 games of last season and is wearing a brace.

The injury is not expected to limit Ajekwu, who averaged 11.3 points a game last season, the second-highest total on the team.