Jerome Rogers / NT notes

[NT80]

Men's basketball: Rogers finds new way to score

Guard turns down treys for baskets closer to hoop

02/09/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas point guard Jerome Rogers’ jump shot still isn’t going down, but he found other ways to contribute Saturday night.

Rogers scored 14 points in 31 minutes during the Mean Green’s 85-70 loss to Western Kentucky at the Super Pit. He averaged 3.1 points in the previous eight games.

Rogers, whose has played the 3-point specialist role in the past, was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc against the Hilltoppers. However, he was able to drive to the basket and finish several times. He also got to the free-throw line eight times, making six.

"I just played with confidence," said Rogers, who was 4-of-8 inside the arc. "I know that I can shoot the ball. It’s going to drop eventually."

Added coach Johnny Jones: "I told him that if he has the open shot to knock it down, but at the same time try to create with his quickness. I have a great deal of confidence in Jerome and his ability."

Smith sees significant playing time

Forward/center Will Smith played 22 minutes, his first extended playing time since Dec. 30. Smith, who missed eight games with ankle and foot injuries before Thursday’s game at Middle Tennessee, had three points and five rebounds.

Smith replaced center Unjel Masters in the rotation. Masters, who has started nine games this season, did not play.

Trio takes off for tunnel early

Three UNT players — Justin Barnett, Lee Green and Jerome Rogers — headed up the tunnel toward the locker room with 3.1 seconds remaining in the first half. The trio mistakenly thought the shot-clock buzzer signaled the end of the half, and Jermaine Green had to run up the tunnel to retrieve his teammates.

Rogers made up for the gaffe by dribbling almost the entire length of the court to hit a running right-hander at the buzzer.

"I was still focused," Rogers said. "I was trying to help my team cut into the lead going into the half."

Briefly ...

Power forward Adrian Awasom, a muscle-bound sophomore not known for his shooting touch, took a 3-pointer in the first half. He was soon substituted for and did not return to the game. ... The Mean Green exceeded its loss total of last season. ... The announced attendance was 4,212, the largest crowd of coach Johnny Jones’ tenure. The second-largest crowd — 4,129 against Louisiana-Lafayette last season — was also for a game that was regionally televised. ... Jones was called for the third technical of his tenure at UNT. He was also called for a technical last season against Western Kentucky.

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

DAVIS COUNTDOWN

Tracking North Texas senior swingman Chris Davis’ progress toward the all-time school scoring record:

Points vs. Western Kentucky: 30

Season average: 18.8

Points this season: 413

Career points: 2,173

Points needed for record: 118

[CMJ]

Chris is gonna be close to that record...

It was nice that Will got to play alot the other night. The radio guys seemed shocked that he was in there so much.