Davis Delivers For UNT

MeanGreen61 · January 3, 2006

Men's basketball: Davis delivers for UNT

Guard comes up with 3-point play to push Mean Green over Tulsa

08:21 AM CST on Tuesday, January 3, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

TULSA, Okla. — North Texas head coach Johnny Jones said nearly a month ago after a heartbreaking loss that he wouldn’t hesitate to go to Kendrick Davis in a tough situation at the end of a game after his star guard came up just a little short in a loss to Texas A&M.

Jones kept his word on Monday night in a game against Tulsa and saw Davis come up with a clutch 3-point play in the closing seconds that lifted the Mean Green to a 67-61 win over Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center.

The win ended the Mean Green’s six-game road losing streak and extended their hot start to the season. UNT (7-4) has won five of its last six games and picked up just its second victory in 23 games at Tulsa (4-8).

“This was a great win for us,” Jones said. “The guys did an excellent job down the stretch and made the big plays we needed to make. That speaks volumes to get that done on the road.”

No play was bigger than the one Davis made with just 1:17 left in the game and the score tied at 57-57.

UNT went to Davis, who drove the lane, drew a foul from Tulsa freshman center Sam Mitchell and dropped the ball in before converting the 3-point play to give the Mean Green a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in its first game on the road since a 72-70 loss to Texas A&M on Dec. 6. Davis had a shot to win the game in the final seconds against the Aggies, but saw hit 3-point shot bounce off the rim at the buzzer.

“I am the type of guy who doesn’t get down on myself,” Davis said. “Every game is a new game and every shot is a new shot. It felt good to see that shot go down and help the team win.”

UNT made the lead stand up by hitting seven straight free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

Davis scored 21 points to lead four UNT players who finished in double figures. Sophomore forward Quincy Williams added a double-double that included 15 points and 10 rebounds.

A balanced attack sent the Mean Green into their Sun Belt Conference opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday on a high note.

UNT’s win also spoiled an unusual game for Tulsa sophomore guard Brett McDade. The former Ryan standout grew up attending games at UNT, where his father Fred played for two seasons.

McDade finished with five points and five assists. Junior forward Darold Crow scored 24 points, despite aggravating an ankle injury he suffered Dec. 22 at Eastern Michigan and missing 5:02 in the second half.

Briefly …

UNT saw its streak of games with at least 81 points come to an end at five. … Tulsa had won six straight games against UNT.

MeanGreen61 · January 3, 2006

Post by ashVID on the Tulsa board

"Actually about 12 min into the game I thought the same thing. I turned to my wife and said that this was the best we had played all year. She looked up at the score and said, "yah... but we're still losing at home to North Texas..." OUCH!"

MeanGreenBuzz · January 3, 2006

Post by ashVID on the Tulsa board
"Actually about 12 min into the game I thought the same thing. I turned to my wife and said that this was the best we had played all year. She looked up at the score and said, "yah... but we're still losing at home to North Texas..." OUCH!"
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They took football from our "rebuilding" team and we took basketball from their "rebuilding" team. Thats a change of fortunes from what I would have predicted in August.