North Texas Daily

Final first half thoughts:

UNT must do a better job on the offensive boards. Tech snagged seven offensive revounds and was given too many second chance opportunities. It’s part of the reason the Red Raiders outscored the Mean Green 29-18 in the paint.

Josh White is doing what he does best, playing solid basketball against the top competition. He dropped 14 on a backcourt that is the backbone of the Texas Tech offense.

Look for UNT to try to get to the line more often in the second half. They started doing that at the end of the half and kept Tech from pulling away. Plus five attempts in a half won’t do it.

Jacob Holman was impressive in a small time slot, as he provided a much needed spark for the Mean Green.

Balanced attack for Texas Tech, who has five players with at least six points.

19:00 Second half: Not the start that UNT wanted. White barely misses a three, Tech puts in a pair of layups to take a five-point lead.

17:57: George had an excellent chance for a breakway, but got pick pocketed and Tech took the ball down the court to score. Now 46-39 Tech at a critical juncture in this game…Both Red Raider and Mean Green fans making their voices heard.

17:15: Ugly turnover for the Mean Green. Shorter throws the ball away after Tech brings the full court press. All the momentum belongs to the team from Lubbock.

16:31: UNT gets a bucket and was now fouled on the floor. 46-41 Tech.

15:50: Well I don;t know about that…White makes an excellent spin move in transition but it called for a foul…is that the crowd chanting about bull spit? O wait…Still 46-41 Tech.

2 Turnovers for the Mean Green and 10 for the Red Raiders…a sloppy game.

15:00: A huge three for Tech gives them an eight point lead, but Hogans answers. 49-43 Raiders.

13:30: Tech sinks a jumper, lead back to eight. UNT needs buckets if they want to stay in this one.

13:17: Goerge is obviously cramping up but doesnt want to exit the game. He reluenctantly walks off and is filled in by Alonzo Edwards.

12:48: The former Big 12 player shows what he’s made of! Edwards slams a dunk home and adds a free throw for good measure. The kid can play with the best, if he gets hot UNT is a much better team. They’re also only down three. 51-48 Tech.

11:50: Total euphoira in the Pit!!! Tech misses a basket and White finds Johnson for a three in transition. UNT has clawed their way back into the game and is tied with the Red Raiders at 51. Nothing can shake this team!

I’ve never seen the Super Pit like this before…the kids are really into it. All that momentum that I said was on Tech’s side minutes ago has taken a liking to the color green!

11:00: Tech pentrates and scores while Edwards keeps up the clutch play and hits jumper. Tied at 53.

Red Raider free throws. Edwards picks up the foul. He certainly got ball but may have been too physical. Jaye Crocket makes only one of two and Tech has a one point lead.

10:37: The offense looks a little confused, but White calls a timeout before another turnover happens. Johnny will try to rally the troops, who have all the support they need. Nobody has left the Super Pit since tipoff, even the cliche UNT sports cinic has to be encouraged.

10:10: Big three for Tech and another turnover for UNT puts the MeaN Green in a slight hole, down 57-53.

9:25: Roberson hits a killer three and the defecit is cut to five after an Odufuwa hook shot falls.

9:20: White is fouled before taking a transition lay up. There’s a better chance of me not eating another Jimmy Johns cookie than him missing these. He once again validates my claims and sinks both.

8:42: Dominique gives Shannon a great look down low and he lays it in to cut the defecit to one. Shorter now at the line for a one and one. 60-59 Tech, UNT isn’t going away anytime soon!

8:00: A blown dunk and a travel by Tech ought to get the UNT fans excited!!! Mean Green ball down by one.

7:51: Shorter’s shot may have left the state, he wasn’t within a foot of the basket on the missed three point attempt. Still a one point difference in a mistake-filled contest.

6:59: Tristan Thompson just misses a three-point play, he’ll shoot free throws. 62-59 Tech.

6:15: Now a four point lead for Tech and UNT loses another turnover. Ouch.

5:38: Tech may be pulling away here,as they’re up by six and will be shooting free throws. Crunch time for the Mean Green. Make that down seven…

4:51: White isn’t going down without a hell of a fight. Guy just went through the whole Tech defense for a layup. Tristan follows suit and UNT is down only three!

4:29: Big stand for the UNT defense, who recovers the ball and now Johnson will shoot a one and one. He sinks both and another comeback is at hand! 67-66 Tech.

3:59: Tech misses an open three that hits the top of the backboard. UNT is primed to take the lead down by one and with the ball. Media Timeout. I can’t say enough about this team’s resilliance, they’ve gone down countless times but continue to fight back! Win or lose, this team is ready for the big stage.

3:35: I said it all week…White is the guy. He sinks a jumper and gives the Mean Green a one point lead! The Red Raiders will shoot free throws.

3:24: Tech makes both free throws, but Tristan drives to the line and draws the foul. No. 14 isn’t afraid of some Big 12 competition, just ask the Kansas State team he dropped 28 on last year!

2:56: Tristan makes both to give UNT the lead, but it disappears seconds later when Tech lays it in. Johnny calls a timeout, 71-70 UNT.

2:42: Tristan is playing without any fear, taking the ball to the basket and just missing a three-point play. He makes both and the lead is back! 72-71 UNT. The anxiety is building with less than three minutes left.

2:20: Finally a turnover in UNT’s favor. Ball goes out of bounds and UNT takes over.

2:02 Tristan helped save a Mean Green possesion, put up a three and missed. Looked to be a clear foul there but I am watching this game through the lens of a totally biased UNT fan…

1:10: Tech makes one of two free throws, Odufuwa misses a close shot and Tech recovers and calls timeout. I may have to interview this crowd postgame, the fans have made a difference.

59.6:Singletary take the game into his own hands and draws a foul. He misses the first and barely sinks the second. UNT down one.

24.1: Dominique takes it himself and misses a drive, UNT fouls Tech rebounder immediately. This game will be won or lost at the line…

We have overtime!!! White hits a lay up once again in the clutch as time runs out and tied it up at 74. Not enough can be said about the Louisiana native. Everyone knew that was coming and he still made it happen. A five minute overtime will decide the winner

4:40: Tech opens with a traveling call…UNT has the momentum.

4:20: Josh White for President! The senior sinks a three and is clearly pumped. He has put this team on his back.

3:34: As if offended that Josh had all the attention, Tristan adds a bucket.

3:19: Sorry Tristo, but Josh is the man tonight! He sinks his SECOND THREE and puts the Mean Green up by eight. I can’t type fast enough and haven’t been this excited about a game in too long. 82-74 UNT!

This just in: Josh White is kinda clutch…

3:05: Not so fast folks…Tech’s David Tairu with a three-point play the old fasnioned way. Here comes the full court press.

2:38: Tristan doesnt care about that, he takes it down the court and lays it in. UNT ball with a 7 point lead.

2:11: This just got interesting…Tech three in transition cuts the lead to four. We’re not out of the woods yet.

2:03: Thompson loses the ball out of bounds. Tech Ball.

1:41: Well, nothing new here. Kedrick with a block and Josh White making both free throw attempts. Somehow this game is almost boring…okay not really. But those guys do those things a lot. 86-80 UNT.

1:19: Now its George’s turn at the line…like I said free throws are so critical in games like this. Good thing George made both…8 point lead!

1:04: I can’t believe my eyes…UNT defense holds the line and kills time before Kedrick heads to the line. He makes oneand it’s UNT’s first nine point lead.

51.7: Tairu misses one free throw, eight point game. White is fouled, can I just say ten point lead now?

No I can’t, but at least he made one. nine point lead.

25.8: Hogans commits his fifth foul and showed some pain in his leg after the play. Hopefully he’s alright. Tech trying to extend this thing for as long as possible but UNT won’t be denied.

That’s it! Johnson dribbles out the clock and UNT defeats its third Big 12 opponent in a row in the Super Pit! What a great game for the whole team, check out further analysis on the contest in tomorrow’s paper.