Drc Article With Stats Mens Bb Loses Again

[OldTimer]

Men's college basketball: Mean Green's lead evaporates in loss

Arkansas State rallies for 74-71 victory

12:12 AM CST on Friday, February 23, 2007

By Brett Vito/Staff Writer

North Texas was in position to complete its home schedule in style at halftime of its game against Arkansas State on Thursday night.

Senior guard Calvin Watson seemingly couldn’t miss from behind the 3-point arc and the Indians were struggling to find a way to jumpstart their offense while falling behind by as many as 14 points.

Unfortunately for UNT, its momentum quickly dwindled in the second half of arguably its biggest game of the regular season and ASU rallied for a 74-71 win at the Super Pit.

UNT was tied for fourth place in the overall Sun Belt Conference standings earlier in the week, but saw Florida Atlantic and ASU pass them by heading into its final game of the regular season. UNT will still host a first-round game.

“This was a must win,” UNT senior guard Kendrick Davis said. “Not even to mention that it was senior night, it was important for seeding for the conference tournament. I thought we had the game won, but they made some big shots at the end. … It was a tough game.”

What made the game particularly tough for UNT (18-10, 9-8) to take was the fact ASU (15-14, 10-7) made all the key plays during an 8-0 run in the final two minutes that proved to be the difference.

UNT led 64-61 after Keith Wooden hit a free throw with 2:04 left before ASU started its game-clinching rally. ASU guard Adriane Banks converted a 3-point play during the surge before Isaac Wells hit a 3-pointer to cap the surge.

UNT never recovered.

“We couldn’t make any stops and they hit some big shots,” Watson said. “You have to give all the credit to Arkansas State.”

UNT came into its game against ASU having won two straight and still had an outside shot at the Sun Belt Conference West Division title. Those hopes came to an end when the Mean Green failed to build on what was a tremendous start in the first half.

UNT appeared as if it might have an easy time with ASU when it led by double figures for much of the first half and held a 40-29 lead at halftime.

Watson came out hot in his final regular season home game, hitting five 3-pointers in the opening period while scoring 17 points.

“We executed early and shot and Calvin shot the lights out,” Davis said.

UNT complemented its solid first half offensively by limiting ASU to 31.4 percent shooting before the break. ASU guard Adrian Banks came into the game averaging 21.4 points a game, but managed just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting before the break.

“The first half we played with a great deal of energy and intensity,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “That was why we were able to go in with the lead at the half. The second half was the exact opposite.”

ASU finished wiping out UNT’s lead when ASU guard Ryan Wedel hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53 at the 9:36 mark

Wedel and Isaac Wells came back from slow starts to score 18 points each and lead four ASU players who finished in double figures.

UNT was locked in a tight battle the rest of the second half after squandering its early lead.

The Mean Green appeared as if it might overcome letting its early lead slip away when Keith Wooden hit a free throw to put UNT up 64-61 with 2:04 left.

ASU answered by going on its run and making a series of key free throws down the stretch. UNT pulled to within two points three times in the last 30 seconds, but ASU answered each time by hitting at least one free throw.

Wedel hit four straight in the last few seconds before Shawn Morgan missed the second of two with eight seconds left. The miss left UNT with one last chance to extend its final home game of the regular season with a 3-pointer.

Those hopes ended when junior guard Michael Sturns came up short on a shot from behind the arc to spoil a night when the Mean Green hoped to make a move up in the Sun Belt standings.

“All of them are disappointing to me when we lose,” Jones said. “We have to turn our attention to our next game. We are close to a 20-win season. We had a chance to take a step toward that goal tonight. Unfortunately we were not able to finish the deal.

Briefly …

Sophomore center Justin Howerton did not play against ASU because of rib injury, but is expected back for Saturday’s game at Louisiana-Lafayette.

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

Arkansas State 74, North Texas 71

ARKANSAS STATE (15-14, 10-7) – Morgan 2-5 2-4 6, Wells 8-18 0-0 18, Little 2-5 0-0 4, A. Banks 6-14 2-2 14, Jones 3-3 3-5 10, Wedel 4-9 6-6 18, Y. Banks 0-1 0-0 0, Farmer 0-0 0-0 0, Ajasin 0-0 0-0 0, Gant 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 27-58 13-17 74.

NORTH TEXAS (18-10, 9-8) – Williams 3-11 1-2 7, Bell 1-3 2-2 4, Davis 6-16 0-0 14, Young 0-3 0-0 0, Watson 8-14 2-4 26, Wooden 2-6 6-9 10, Sturns 2-7 4-4 8, Mangrum 0-0 0-0 0, Stewart 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 23-59 17-23 71.

Halftime – UNT 40-29. 3-point goals – ASU 7-20 (Wells 2-4, A. Banks 0-6, Jones 1-1, Wedel 4-8, Y. Banks 0-1), UNT 8-20 (Bell 0-1, Davis 2-7, Young 0-2, Watson 6-9, Sturns 0-1). Fouled out – Little, Bell. Rebounds – ASU 31 (Banks 7), UNT 42 (Williams 10). Assists – ASU 14 (Morgan, Banks, Jones 3), UNT 10 (Bell, Davis 3). Total fouls – ASU 20, UNT 19. A – 2,174.