NT web site game article NT over UT Perm.

[OldTimer]

Simpson and Sturns Score Season Highs In 101-62 Victory

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 12/28/2005

Courtesy: Rick Yeatts

DENTON (12/28/05) –Sophomore Michael Sturns scored a personal-best 20 points, and senior Jeffrey Simpson followed with a season-high 19 points to lead the North Texas men’s basketball team to a 101-62 win against UT-Permian Basin on Wednesday night in the Super Pit.

The Mean Green (5-4) extended its record to 5-1 at home and is now 2-0 against the Falcons.

Simpson, who scored a career-high 26 points last year against UTPB, posted 15 points in the first half. In the first eight minutes of the game, the center led the Mean Green on both ends of the court. He scored 10 of NT’s first 15 points, was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, blocked three shots and pulled down four rebounds. Simpson finished the game with a season-high five blocks.

After Simpson led North Texas to a 15-8 advantage in the opening minutes, Sturns came in the game to lead the Mean Green on a 17-5 run. Sturns opened the run with a layup, followed with a dunk and sealed the streak with a second dunk to give NT a 16-point lead, 33-17, with 5:39 left in the first half. Lionel Brown contributed six points in the run.

UTPB (8-4) cut the 18-point halftime deficit to 11 points in the second period before North Texas responded with a 17-6 run to take a 71-49 advantage. The Mean Green continued to run the court down the stretch and finished the game on a 30-13 run.

North Texas recorded season highs in steals (20) and forced turnovers (33) against the Falcons. The steals was also a North Texas single-game school record. Senior Isaac Hines led the team in takeaways with five. He also chipped in nine points, including two three-pointers.

NT head coach Johnny Jones moved into sole possession of seventh place on the school's all-time wins list with 54.

Junior Kendrick Davis joined Simpson and Sturns in double figures with 14 points. Junior Rich Young started his first game in a Mean Green uniform and posted a personal-best five points.

North Texas returns to action on Friday, Dec. 30 when it faces Stephen F. Austin in the Mean Green’s fifth consecutive home game. Tip-off is set for 7 pm in the Super Pit.

North Texas postgame notes

North Texas postgame quotes

North Texas vs. UT-Permian Basin box score