Published: November 10, 2008 09:44 pm      

Brown’s big night fell under the radar

Guard tied for NC’s highest scoring game in 16 years with 45 points vs. Temple

In the Navarro Runnin’ Bulldogs 105-95 victory over Temple College last Wednesday, guard DeAndre Brown poured in 45 points.

It was a night for the record books, and knowing Navarro’s brand of basketball, which relies on a deep rotation, something that isn’t likely to happen again anytime soon.

“You can’t win that way,” Runnin’ Bulldogs coach Johnny Estelle said. “You have to have balance. It was DeAndre’s night. Tomorrow night might be someone else’s night.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs (3-0) return to action at 7 p.m. tonight at Hill College. A brief glance back at Brown’s breakout game is warranted.

Brown’s 45-point night matched the most points scored by a Navarro player during the Wolens Center Era dating back to 1986. Frank Thomas -- no, not “The Big Hurt” of baseball -- scored 45 in a 113-110 loss at Paris back in the 1992-93 season.

Brown couldn’t miss against Temple, which by the way was the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ first win there in 12 years (Temple beat pre-season No. 7 San Jacinto, 104-89, in its next home game).

Brown made 77 percent of his shots, including 5 of 8 on his 3-pointers. He was 12 of 14 from 2-point range as the open-court tempo allowed for a lot of transition baskets.

Brown, who was 6 of 9 from the free-throw line, had his teammates looking for him all night.

“We have a very unselfish team,” Estelle said. “He was on fire and obviously shot a great percentage.”

Estelle says don’t look for a repeat, unless Brown gets hot again.

Even Brown said last week the goal right now is to get everyone involved on the offensive end.

“We’re still getting used to each other,” he said.

The norm for Navarro is going to be more like last week’s home opener against Hill College, a 70-57 victory in which Brown led the team with 13 points. Seven Bulldogs scored at least six points.

“We’ve always been a very balanced basketball team,” Estelle said.