| Mavs on TV Tonight |
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| Written by Stephen Peters, The Shorthorn sports editor | ||||
| Monday, 29 December 2008 08:34 AM | ||||
   The two most successful Metroplex schools in recent years square off tonight at The Super Pit in Denton. The Mavericks take on the Mean Green and will be televised on KTXA-21 at 7 p.m. tonight. A rivalry dating back to the mid-70's and as former conference rivals in the early 80's, UTA (4-6) and UNT (8-3) meet for the third straight year as the Mavericks look to break from its current five-game losing streak, the longest such streak since 2006-07. That year was also the last time these two met in Denton with the Mavs winning that game 83-81. Since 2006, the Mean Green (51) and UTA (38) are the two most winningest teams in the D/FW area, each winning its respective conference last season and playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Mavs come into tonight's contest 1-6 on the road with a close loss to then-No. 21 Baylor 79-76 on Dec. 20 and an 88-79 loss to Tulsa last Tuesday, which happen to be the only games the Mavericks have scored 70 points or more and lost. UTA is averaging 76.8 points a game this year — 4th in the Southland — but are allowing opponents to score 73.1 a game —10th in the Southland. Senior forward Anthony Vereen leads the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game and is second on the team with 6.2 rebounds per game. Vereen scored a career-high 28 in the loss to Baylor. Junior guards Brandon Long (15.7), Marquez Haynes (14.3) and Rogér Guignard (10.6) are also averaging double figures in scoring. The Mean Green are 5-0 this season and 20-2 the last two seasons at The Super Pit. They come into tonight's game scoring 77.3 points per game — 2nd in the Sun Belt — but give up 75.6 points per game — 12th in their conference. Sophomore guards Josh White and Tristan Thompson lead UNT in scoring with 12.9 points per game. Rebounding will play an important factor in tonight's game as the Mavericks, who average 34 boards a game, have been out-rebounded 80-54 in the last two games. North Texas averages 39.5 a game led by George Odufuwa with 7.3 rebounds per game. Another key tonight for a Maverick victory will be the second half play. In the first 10 games this season, the Mavs have outscored opponents by a total of 386-346 in the first half but have been outscored in the second half 385-382. North Texas seems to have made a living this year by playing teams close early and pulling away after halftime. The guard play is very even with each team having three players in double-figure scoring, but it will up to the front court of the Mavericks to establish a presence early and take control of this game. This is the 49th meeting between the two schools with UNT leading the series 28-20. UTA, however, has won the last four dating back to the 1995-96 season, but UNT is 17-7 all-time at home against the Mavs. Views: 1599 | E-mail
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