North Texas (7-1) put their best start in 32 years on the line when they faced Texas Southern (1-6) on the road in Houston. It was not since the 1977 team under Bill Blakeley did North Texas start out 6-1. It was their third game in six days and TSU has always played North Texas tough. It looked like it might be a exciting game with a tired team facing a very determined team hungry for a victory in their first home game of the season. Would North Texas stand the challenge? In the end they did to take home a very hard fought 70-64 victory.

This was the third road game of the season for North Texas and were 1-1 in the previous two road games. After the contest they improved their road record to 2-1 with another road game coming up on Wednesday.

Going into the game North Texas carried a #41 RPI ranking and they needed a win to keep their ranking at a high level. The higher the RPI the more attractive a team is for March Madness in case they do not win their conference tournament.

The goal by TSU was simple, to keep Tristian Thompson from scoring and keep George Odufuwa from getting rebounds. Thompson was ranked 16^th in the nation in scoring with over 22 points a game and Odufuwa was 16^th in the nation in rebounds. While they kept Thompson from getting his average he did manage to pour in 17 points. 

Head Basketball Coach Johnny Jones starting lineup was Shannon Shorter who was from Houston, Josh White, Kedrick Hogans, Odufuwa and Thompson.

The North Texas fans in the stands saw Hogans get the tip-off to go to Shorter who put the layup in to give North Texas a 2-0 lead. They roared with approval and were vocal all night for North Texas. This is the type of support Jones' team needs on the road and at home.

It looked like it was going to be a runaway for North Texas as they got the first two points of the game and went up several times in double figures. TSU clawed their way back to take a 33-32 half-time lead.

The second half was much like the first. TSU battled North Texas eyeball to eyeball refusing to give in. It was not until less then a 30 seconds left in the game North Texas could say they were going to win the game. Even then, TSU was only down by four points.

Hogans was named the player of the game because of his 17 points. He was tied with Thompson 17 and Shorter added in 11 points. No other player scored in double figures.

North Texas will be on the road again visiting Sam Houston, Wednesday, December 8^th with tip-off scheduled for 8 P.M.