Drc Article On Game...huge Boost To Nt

OldTimer · March 17, 2007

12:54 AM CDT on Saturday, March 17, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS — University of North Texas officials have spoken all week about what a huge boost the school has received thanks to its men’s basketball team qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

For a few fleeting moments Friday, the Mean Green appeared as if it might put the school in an even bigger spotlight.

UNT hung close with the heavily favored University of Memphis in a first-round game at New Orleans Arena before the Tigers pulled away late in the second half for a 73-58 win. The loss ended a memorable season for the Mean Green and its fans, more than a hundred of whom traveled to New Orleans to see the team play in its first NCAA Tournament game since 1988.

“I am extremely proud of the team,” UNT fan Emmitt Jackson said. “No one gave North Texas a chance in this game and we didn’t lose it until the end.”

UNT trailed by just six points late in the second half when Memphis went on a run and appeared to put away the Mean Green by grabbing a 59-42 lead with just over seven minutes left.

UNT made one last surge and cut its deficit to nine points twice, the last time on a Ben Bell layup with 4:11 remaining.

The Mean Green couldn’t complete the rally, ending the season of arguably the best team in UNT basketball history. UNT finished with a school-record 23 wins behind a veteran roster that reached several individual milestones.

Senior guard Calvin Watson finished his career as the Mean Green’s all-time leader in three-point shots made in both a season (90) and a career (208) while head coach Johnny Jones jumped to third in UNT history with 86 wins.

UNT senior guard Kendrick Davis said he believed the Mean Green would keep its season going with an upset win over Memphis, but will look back fondly on playing on a team that will leave a lasting legacy.

“God blessed me and my team to reach this point,” Davis said. “Not a lot of people can say they played in the NCAA Tournament.”

UNT qualified for the tournament with an unexpected run late in the season. The Mean Green had lost three of five heading into its regular season finale at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The Mean Green won that game on a last-second three-point shot from Davis and went on to sweep four games in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The run changed life dramatically for the Mean Green.

UNT, which played in front of just 409 fans in the finals of the Sun Belt tournament, suddenly became the hot story in the Dallas area. The Mean Green was featured on national news broadcasts and in newspapers across the state.

UNT headed into its game against Memphis hoping to add another chapter to its memorable tale, but came up short against a national power. The loss ended a season the Mean Green’s players as well as their coaches and fans said they enjoyed.

“Overall, I am proud of our basketball team,” Jones said. “We played hard.”

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