Basketball: Sturns big in return for UNT

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By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas’ season opener had a familiar feel for Michael Sturns on Friday night.

The junior guard came off the bench in UNT’s first game of the season just like last year. He had a big offensive night for the second year in a row as well.

That is where UNT hopes the comparisons between last season and this year end for the talented but at times troubled guard who helped lead the Mean Green to an 85-47 win over Cameron at the Super Pit.

Sturns was one of UNT’s top offensive players early last season before he was dismissed from the squad for not conforming to team standards late in the year. UNT head coach Johnny Jones reinstated Sturns during the offseason and watched him take advantage of the opportunity for at least one night against Cameron, a member of the Division II Lone Star Conference.

Sturns scored 18 points and was one of three UNT players to finish in double figures. Senior guard Kendrick Davis led the Mean Green with 19 points.

“It felt like coming back home to be out there again,” Sturns said. “I developed a family-type relationship with the guys. I was happy to be back and help the team.”

Sturns was particularly helpful after UNT got off to a slow start, missing its first eight shots while falling behind 8-1. Jones sent Sturns into the game and saw UNT go on an 18-4 run a short time later.

Sturns and Davis combined to score all of UNT’s points during the surge that gave the Mean Green a 26-21 lead.

UNT built its lead to 40-26 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way in what amounted to Sturns’ welcome back party. The former Crowley standout played in 18 of the Mean Green’s first 19 games last season and was the leading scorer among reserves in the Sun Belt Conference with an average of 9.7 points a game when he left the team.

UNT went on to lose eight of its last 10 games of the season without Sturns.

“Mike brings a lot of energy to the court,” Davis said. “That is what he did tonight. … He is a great scorer, but it’s the other things he does that people don’t notice. He got some offensive rebounds, steals and ran the team. I am not saying losing him is the reason we slumped last year, but he will help us a lot. He brings too much to the table. We need him.”

Sturns showed that potential in UNT’s season opener last year against Hardin-Simmons when he scored 14 points off the bench and began to earn a role as the Mean Green’s top bench player.

Jones was forced to adjust his rotation after dismissing Sturns from the team following a trip to Louisiana-Lafayette and New Orleans.

Despite missing the last half of the season, Sturns finished as the Mean Green’s fourth-leading scorer, behind only Davis, Calvin Watson and Jeffrey Simpson.

Davis and Watson were Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selections, while Simpson was recently selected in the NBA Developmental League Draft.

UNT will look to Sturns to serve as the Mean Green’s backup point guard behind junior college transfer Ben Bell. He will also see time at the shooting guard spot.

Jones believes Sturns is capable having a solid season off the bench after rejoining the team largely because of the way he has grown as a person.

“Mike has a better understanding of what we need from him in terms of giving us energy,” Jones said. “He has matured and is continuing to mature as a player and a person. I like his approach to what he is doing and what he gave us tonight. We hope that he will continue moving forward. … Once he settles in and plays in the team concept, he does great things.”

Briefly …

Davis played with a sore ankle after spraining it in the Mean Green’s exhibition game against Texas College on Tuesday. He said the injury was painful, but he was able to play through it. … Cameron counted its game against the Mean Green as an exhibition.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

North Texas 85, Cameron 47

Cameron – Bernard 1-3 1-2 3, Mitchell 1-7 3-4 5, Reid 4-14 7-7 16, Smith 1-5 1-2 3, Bolden 3-9 2-2 9, Green 0-0 0-0 0, Cubit 1-5 2-4 4, Ison 0-2 1-2 1, Mercer 2-2 2-6 6, Tisdale 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 13-51 19-29 47.

UNT (1-0) – Stewart 2-6 2-3 6, Wooden 3-7 2-6 8, Bell 3-6 0-0 6, Davis 7-10 2-3 19, Watson 2-8 5-7 10, Ruffin 0-1 0-0 0, Sturns 7-11 2-3 18, Young 1-2 1-2 3, Edwards 0-2 0-0 0, Mangrum 1-5 0-0 2, Jackson 1-2 0-0 2, Reinking 2-2 1-1 5, Williams 1-4 0-0 2, Howerton 0-1 4-9 4. Totals 30-67 19-34 85.

Halftime UNT 40-26. 3-point goals – Cameron 2-20 (Mitchell 0-5, Reid 1-7, Smith 0-2, Bolden 1-2, Cubit 0-2, Ison 0-1, Tisdale 0-1), UNT 6-18 (Bell 0-1, Davis 3-5, Watson 1-5, Sturns 2-3, Young 0-1, Mangrum 0-3). Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Cameron 26 (Mercer 6), UNT 61 (Stewart 11). Assists – Cameron 6 (Reid, Smith 2), UNT 11 (Young 4). Total fouls – Cameron 22, UNT 22. A – 1,047.