Game! Of! The! Night! 11/20/2008: North Texas at Sam Houston State

North Texas at Sam Houston State
Johnson Coliseum - Huntsville, TX
8:00 PM EST

It's great to catch up with our old friends from Texas. At around this time last year, both the Mean Green and Bearkats were burrs in some Big XII saddles -- North Texas beat Oklahoma State by nine, while SHSU took out Texas Tech, both road games. They were impactful enough victories to keep the two teams hanging around the State of the Other 22 ratings, despite the fact that both ran out of gas through league season. We've since adjusted the formula to make more of measurable momentum.

Both won at least 20 games (Sam State won 23), and neither made any sort of national postseason. So what now? North Texas returns some key pieces, most notably sophomore Josh White, the 5-10 supershooter that busted OSU for 25 points in just his second college game. He's tallied 17.5 ppg in his first two games, including 23 in the return match with the Cowboys on Monday, which Oklahoma State survived 100-88. That game was notable for the contributions of a newcomer, trickle-down transfer George Odufuwa. From deep in the Arizona State bench, the 6-8 Dallas native sat out a year and reemerged meaner and greener. He notched a 10-and-13 double-double in that OSU game.

Sam State did it with seniors last year, and this year it's all about the newcomers. No fewer than six have suited up in orange for Bob Marlin's rebuilding crew, and one to keep an eye on is 6-1 Corey Allmond, a juco transfer from Howard College in Big Spring, Texas. After two games, it's clear that he's the go-to guy, scoring 24 in the 100-42 blowout opener against Schreiner and 23 in the year-after game against Texas Tech. No win this time, but Sam played the Red Raiders to within 11.

Both teams have had no trouble scoring, averaging over 87 points a piece. Will there be enough defense to save the scoreboard from blowing up? We'll see tonight.

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