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North Texas Outlasts Pilots in Double Overtime
PORTLAND, Ore. --- North Texas overcame a 14-point second half deficit and then outlasted Portland in double overtime for a 77-72 victory in the final game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Chiles Center on Saturday. The Pilots had two chances at both the end of regulation and the first overtime period to win at the buzzer, but the bounces were unfriendly and the Mean Green made big shots for the win.
Junior C Thomas van der Mars recorded his second straight double-double with season highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pilots (3-3). Senior F Ryan Nicholas finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, while junior guard Kevin Bailey also added 15 points.
Trailing 53-51 in the closing seconds of regulation, North Texas (3-3) tied the game on a driving layup by Chris Jones with 16 seconds remaining. Portland's Bryce Pressley drove to the rim, but his shot rimmed off. Nicholas grabbed the rebound, but his putback at the buzzer also rimmed out.
The Pilots took an early five point lead in the first overtime on a van der Mars layup with 2:35 left, but Maurice Aniefiok drilled back-to-back three-pointers to make it a 62-61 Pilot lead. After a Pressley free throw, T.J. Taylor hit a runner with 22 seconds remaining to tie the game.
Bailey drove the lane but missed and Nicholas was stripped on another putback attempt to force double overtime.
Taylor took over from there with a pair of free throws and two three-pointers, the latter giving UNT a 71-68 edge. After a Pilot miss, Taylor worked the shot clock down and found Keith Coleman for a dunk with 1:07 remaining. Van der Mars made two free throws, but Jones made another runner with 36 seconds left for a five point lead to essentially ice the game.
Taylor scored 14 of his team-high 21 points after halftime, leading four Mean Green players in double figures. Jones added a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Portland committed 16 turnovers in the game after having just six turnovers in last night's victory over Columbia. The Pilots also struggled to 37 percent shooting from the field and made 15-of-27 free throws. North Texas finished at 44 percent from the floor and 9-for-18 at the foul line.
The Pilots will return to the Chiles Center on Wednesday against the San Jose Spartans at 7 p.m.
GIF Highlights:
Thomas van der Mars continued his hot start to the 2013-14 season, leading the Pilots with 21 points and recording 11 rebounds for a double-double. This big dunk in the second overtime period cut the North Texas lead to one.
Ryan Nicholas also had a double-double for Portland, with 15 points and 16 boards. This drive late in regulation put Portland up by two with less than a minute left.
Kevin Bailey was the third Pilot in double figures, recording 15 points on the night. None were bigger than when he put Portland up by three in overtime with this step-back three pointer.
In the second half, Bailey raced back for this amazing block right after he hit a three pointer on the other end.Â
