Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
North Texas
Buffs Win After Slow Start
December 22, 2002 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER - The Colorado men's basketball team drove its record to 5-3 with an 87-71 victory over North Texas on Monday night at the Coors Events Center. The victory improved the Buffs' home record to 4-1.
Sophomore center David Harrison shined once again for the Buffs collecting 29 points on the night including a 13-of-17 effort from the free throw line. His effort marked career highs in both free throws attempted and made. The Buffs collectively hit 76.3 percent from the line.
"Tonight he came out and his attitude was very good," head coach Ricardo Patton said of Harrison's performance. "He continues to work on his emotions. He has gotten better at it and it affects his performance and it affects the teams' (performance)."
Senior forward Stephane Pelle had 12 points and 11 boards to record his third double-double of the year and the 28th of his career. Junior guard Blair Wilson had 12 while junior forward Michel Morandais added 11 points to round out the Buffs' double-digit scorers. Freshman point guard Antoine McGee set a new career record with six points and added three assists on the night.
The Mean Green were led by guard Chris Davis who turned in a 20-point effort. Davis also dished out a game-high seven assists. Guard Leonard Hopkins added 13 while forward Michael Degrate cashed in another 12.
Colorado came out slow, trailing North Texas early as the Mean Green jumped out to a five point lead before the Buffs' first basket. Colorado took its first lead at the 13:29 mark of the first stanza and never relinquished control. North Texas was able to tie the game at 17 points a minute later, but the Buffs took control with a 12-0 run.
Colorado led 37-28 at the break and let North Texas get as close as eight points 2:30 into the second half but then drove their lead to as many as 20 points with 7:10 remaining in the game. North Texas would never get closer than 12 points.
"Tonight was a good performance after the poor game we played at Rice," Patton said. "Tonight was a better effort. It's a good win going into Charlotte playing in the Pepsi Classic."
Colorado will now travel to Charlotte, N.C., to play in the Pepsi Classic hosted by the University of Charlotte. The Buffs will face Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday, followed by Charlotte on Friday and Loyola-Chicago on Saturday. Tip-off against Louisiana-Lafayette is set for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 27. The first two games will be broadcasted on ESPN2.
