Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
North Texas
Mean Green Surge Past Owls in Second Half
1/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2007
DENTON, TX (January 20, 2007) -- DeAndre Rice scored 24 points but the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team allowed 52 second-half points to the University of North Texas to fall 76-59 at The Super Pit in Denton, TX on Saturday.
Rice's 14 points led FAU through the first 20 minutes, but no other Owl had more than five. Florida Atlantic shot 46.2 percent in the first half while holding to North Texas to just 29.0 percent, but UNT stayed in the game on the strength of forcing eight FAU turnovers while holding a 19-16 rebounding edge. The two teams would combine for just four field goals in the half's final nine minutes of the frame as the Owls held a 28-24 first-half lead.
North Texas opened the second half on an 11-3 run to take a 35-31 lead, and the Owls would never regain the lead. UNT's Calvin Watson would hit six threes in the second half after just two first-half points to lead the Mean Green charge. Quincy Williams added eight second-half points to finish with 12 while Michael Sturns would contribute 13 points off the bench.
Carlos Monroe was the only other Owl to finish in double-figures with 11 points, but struggled in a 5-for-16 shooting night. Jeff Parmer grabbed a team high seven rebounds to go with nine points.
After starting 2-0 in conference play, the Owls have now dropped five of their last seven Sun Belt Conference decisions to fall below .500 in conference play for the first time this season. FAU is 8-11 overall.
Florida Atlantic will return home next week to face Louisiana-Lafayette and UALR at FAU Arena.
