WKU Hilltoppers vs. North Texas Mean Green
Postgame Notes
Feb. 5, 2015
E.A. Diddle Arena; Bowling Green, Ky.
FINAL SCORE: WKU 65, North Texas 59
Team Records, Game Notables and Series Information
– WKU won its fourth-straight game against North Texas to extend its Conference USA-leading record to 9-1. The Hilltoppers have won 11 of their last 12 since Dec. 27 and are now 16-6 on the season. The Mean Green drop to 9-12 on the year and 3-6 in league play.
– WKU hosts Rice Saturday night at 7:00 (CT) before embarking on a three-game road trip next week. Tickets for the game are available through the WKU Ticket Office online at WKUSports.com, in-person at E.A. Diddle Arena or over the phone at 1-800-5-BIG RED or 745-5222 locally.
Team Notes
– WKU used the starting lineup of Chris Harrison-Docks, Trency Jackson, T.J. Price, George Fant and Aleksej Rostov for the 15th-straight game and 17th time this season. The group is 14-3 on the year.
– KEY FIRST HALF RUN: Trailing 7-4 in a slow start to the game by both sides, WKU scored eight-straight points and 14 of 15 to lead 18-8. During the run, the Hilltoppers forced the Mean Green to miss five-straight field goals and 2-of-12 overall while causing three turnovers. Since that 7-4 deficit, WKU scored 25 of 30 points overall to lead 29-12 with 4:21 left in the first half.
– KEY SECOND HALF RUN: With North Texas leading 59-54 with 4:04 remaining, WKU went on an 11-0 spurt to close the game and win 65-59. The stretch was keyed by back-to-back three pointers from Chris Harrison-Docks and Trency Jackson to take a 60-59 lead, while a free throw from T.J. Price and field goals from George Fant and Ben Lawson capped the decisive run.
– The Hilltopper defense allowed just seven points in the final 8:36 of the second half after surrendering 27 points in the first 11:14.
– The Hilltoppers’ 16 fast-break points were their most against a Division I opponent this season.
– WKU’s 40 points in the paint marked the third time this season and second in conference play (at FAU) that it eclipsed the 40-point marker in the paint.
– After starting the game 1-for-8 from the floor, WKU hit 11-of-13 to take a 31-16 lead at the under-4:00 media timeout of the first half.
– WKU turned the ball over once in the second half after committing 10 turnovers in the first half.
– WKU had its best-shooting first half in 10 games of Conference USA action (13-for-24; .542) and its best first half in terms of field goal defense in C-USA games (10-for-35; .286).
– WKU has made a three-pointer in 862-straight games dating back to March 15, 1987.
Individual Notes
– Senior forward George Fant established a career high with 16 rebounds and chipped in 14 points for his 10th double-double this season and 20th of his career.
– Fant snagged 10 of his 16 rebounds in the second half.
– Fant has posted a double-double in nine of his last 11 games.
– Senior guard T.J. Price scored a game-high 19 points, dished out six assists and tallied seven rebounds.
– Price scored 13 points, hauled down five rebounds and had four assists in the first half alone.
– Thursday’s game was Price’s third of the season in which he scored at least 19 points while adding five rebounds and five assists.
– Sophomore forward Ben Lawson scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and tallied five blocks.
– Lawson has blocked 20 shots in his last seven games.
– Lawson scored six points, grabbed three boards and swatted two shots in the second half.
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