DRC Home proving the pits..article on Mens game

[OldTimer]

Home proving the pits

Mean Green lose, match last year’s loss total at Super Pit

01/17/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas has not found much comfort in the familiar surroundings of the Super Pit this season.

An 88-80 overtime loss Thursday night to Arkansas-Little Rock in Sun Belt play gave the Mean Green three home losses, matching their total from last season.

The setback to the Trojans was perhaps the most painful for the Mean Green, which was coming off a four-point loss to Denver and has yet to record a home win over a Division I foe this season.

"It really hurts because it’s back-to-back where we battled and lost at the end," said forward Michael DeGrate, who scored a career-high 17 points. "We just didn’t make the plays when we needed them."

DRC/Stacey Cooper

North Texas forward Unjel Masters, right, looks for an open teammate as Arkansas-Little Rock forward Darius Eason gaurds him Thursday at the Super Pit.

The Trojans (11-6, 2-1) knocked down two critical 3-pointers in the extra period. Guard Tony Travis pulled up from long range on the first possession of overtime to give UALR a lead it would never relinquish. Guard Jibrahn Ike, who led the Trojans with 18 points, delivered the knockout punch with a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to four with 21 seconds remaining.

UNT (6-9, 1-2) shot 53 percent from the floor in regulation but made only one of five shots in overtime.

The Mean Green led by as many as 13 early in the second half, but needed a pair of free throws from DeGrate with four-tenths of a second on the clock to send the game into overtime. UALR coach Porter Moser attempted to freeze DeGrate by calling two timeouts before his first free throw and a third before the second.

The Mean Green had a chance to regain the lead on its previous possession, when UNT missed five shots. Three of the failed attempts were around the basket and the final was a wide-open look at a 3 for guard Lee Green.

"We had an excellent opportunity to finish the game," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "Unfortunately, it just didn’t go down. As a team, we’ve got to start making plays down the stretch. When we’ve got the opportunity, we’ve got to step up and deliver."

Swingman Chris Davis, who played all 45 minutes, led the Mean Green with 25 points. However, he also had nine turnovers and was held to four points in the final 11 minutes. Forward Jermaine Green added 15 points for UNT.

UALR shot 68 percent in the second half and had five players finish in double figures. Guards Mark Green and Travis had 15 points. Forwards Jake Yancey and Columbus Willis finished with 12 and 11, respectively.

The Trojans made four of six 3-pointers in the half, including two during an 11-1 run to take the lead with 3:45 remaining in regulation. UNT tied the game briefly on DeGrate’s clutch free throws, but the Mean Green never regained the lead.

"We can’t let that happen, especially in our house," Jermaine Green said. "We had the lead at halftime and just gave it away."

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.