North Texas head coach Johnny Jones knew where attention would be focused when the Mean Green played its lone exhibition game of the season against Panhandle State on Tuesday.

UNT lost several of the wing players who guided the Mean Green to the NCAA Tournament last season. For at least one night Dez Willingham, Adam McCoy and a host of other newcomers made it appear as if UNT will be able to fill that void in a 108-71 win at the Super Pit.

McCoy scored 14 points, while Willingham added 12 for UNT, which had seven players score in double figures in its first action since falling to Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in March.

"When you look at what we lost last year, the point everyone will look at is how we replace the guys who played at the two [shooting guard] and the three [small forward] for us last year," Jones said. "Those are the spots that were vacated by our first- and second-leading scorers. Those guys answered some questions tonight."

McCoy and Willingham had an even bigger opportunity to show what they could do because South Florida transfer Collin Dennis sat out with an injury. Dennis is expected to return for the Mean Green's season opener Saturday against Cameron.

UNT appears as if it will be able to endure the loss of Sun Belt Tournament MVP Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis after adding a host of talented guards in the off-season. Freshman guards Josh White and Tristan Thompson scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, to give UNT four newcomers at guard who scored in double figures.

Ben Bell, UNT's returning starter at point guard, led the Mean Green with 15 points and handed out three assists while running an efficient offensive attack. Seven players scored in double figures for UNT, which shot 58 percent from the field.

"We played well as a team," Willingham said. "It flowed well. Everyone played unselfish and passed up open shots to get other people shots."

The approach is one UNT believes it will maintain this season.

"We are capable of playing a lot of people," Jones said. "We go out and play as hard as we can possibly play. I am hoping that we can play a lot of guys and we won't have to whittle it down."

UNT didn't have the opportunity to see how it will fare when it is under pressure against an overmatched Panhandle State squad. The Mean Green ran out to an 18-7 lead at the 15:45 mark of the first half on a layup from forward Quincy Williams and maintained a double-figure lead the rest of the night.

The exhibition proved to be a perfect warmup for the Mean Green's season-opener against Cameron. It will be a big night for UNT, which will unveil its NCAA Tournament banner in a ceremony before the game.

A big crowd is expected to be on hand for the contest that will take place after the UNT football team's game against Navy at Fouts Field. The Mean Green played in front of a crowd of 847 against Panhandle State.

"It wasn't like this at SMU for the first exhibition game," Willingham said. "It's easy to play when you have more people in the gym. It's more exciting. It was a good crowd, I thought."

Willingham was just one of UNT's newcomers in the backcourt who made an impression on that crowd in the Mean Green's first action since the NCAA Tournament. The experience was one UNT's new guards enjoyed.

"It was exciting to come out for the exhibition game," White said. "I felt pretty confident for my first game. … That is how I play. I try to play with confidence and produce for my team."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

North Texas 108, Panhandle State 71

PANHANDLE STATE (71) -- Durr 8-15 3-8 21, Stephenson 1-9 2-4 5, Ogden 0-2 2-3 2, Salisbury 1-2 0-0 3, Anderson 8-19 4-4 22, Ruiz 0-0 0-0 0, Laslie 6-15 2-4 14, Hilton 0-3 0-0 0, Callum 1-2 0-0 2, Bultman 0-2 0-0 0, Loftis 0-2 0-0 0, Balderas 0-0 0-0 0, Maas 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-73 13-23 71.

NORTH TEXAS (108) -- Williams 5-10 2-4 12, Wooden 5-9 2-5 12, Bell 5-7 3-5 15, McCoy 5-11 1-2 14, Willingham 4-5 0-0 12, White 6-12 0-0 13, Thompson 4-7 3-5 11, Stewart 1-2 2-2 4, Hogans 3-4 1-2 7, Montague 0-0 0-0 0, Howerton 4-5 0-0 8. Totals 42-72 14-25 108.

Halftime -- UNT 57-30. 3-point goals -- PSU 6-26 (Durr 2-5, Stephenson 1-1, Salisbury 1-2, 1-2, Anderson 2-7, Laslie 0-6, Hilton 0-3, Loftis 0-2), UNT 10-23 (Bell 2-4, McCoy 3-8, Willingham 4-5, White 1-5, Thompson 0-1). Fouled out -- none. Rebounds -- PSU 39 (Anderson 8), UNT 50 (Williams 10). Assists -- PSU 10 (Salisbury, Loftis 3), UNT 15 (Williams 4). Total fouls -- PSU 18, UNT 16. A -- 847.