Biography
Coach Dan Bell on Owens: "Probably as key as we have to our team. Has just been a guy who is really talented and we've all loved him at times, but we've been crazy with him at other times. We've moving him to the point guard. Part of Jethro's problems in the past have been that he's just not focused and we didn't involve him enough, and he likes to be involved. With the ball in his hands every single time we have it, we think we have a chance to really arouse his interest. There's no question that our success will be very much in his hands, because we think he has the talent for sure. If he'll play up to his level, he can really take us by a bunch of people."
Worth noting: Owens is a head of the Demon career FG aim record 58.7 by George Jones (1984-88). He already holds Demon adn SLC single-game accuracy marks (10-10 vs. Centenary, 1990). Owens had the only recorded triple-double in school history last season vs. Grambling. he ranks fourth all-time n career steals (119) and needs 18 t overtake Billy Reynolds for third. Roman Banks (190) is probably out of reach in second place.
In 1991-92: Owens scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, had 11 assists (and made 6 steals) in 25 minutes for his triple-double in 123-73 romp over Grambling. For he year, he shot 10% over his career FT%, opening with 14 of 17 aim. He led the Demons in scoring four times in the first eight games but never again. He was the top rebounder seven times, including a season-high 11 in the last game vs. McNeese. Owens scored 22, including 9-12 FTs, in the romp over Centenary, but got only 6 points in the next three games. He didn't score in double digits again until getting 16 points (6-8 FTs) at Grambling. He finished the year with back to back 12-point outings at North Texas and vs. McNeese, his only two double digit scoring outputs in SLC play. He averaged just 6.4 ppg in SLC games.
In 1990-91: He set a Southland Conference and Demon single-season record, and flirted with an NCAA record for field goal percentage, shooting 71.4% from the floor. Owens led the country most of the year, but fell out of the rankings in mid-February when he no longer had enough shots per game to qualify. He set a Demon single-game record and tied a conference mark, by hitting all 10 of his shots vs. Centenary on Dec. 8 while scoring 22 points. Owens had a career-high 16 rebounds against Ouachita Baptist two nights later. In a Jan. 3 win over U.S. International, he had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 6 dunks. On. Jan. 12, Owens scored 21 on 10-11 aim vs. McNeese. Two days later, he scored 20 points, swatted 3 Northeast La. shots and hit 4-4 FTs as the Demons set a team single-game record with 11 blocked shots in a last-second 66-65 loss to the NCAA-bound Indians. He sank 80 of his first 100 FGs through Jan. 19 but made 36-68 in his next 11 games. He had a blocked shot with 8 seconds to go, helping save a Jan. 31 1-point win over Southeastern Louisiana. Owens hit just 18 of his first 42 FTs, then sank 14 of his next 18 and 20 of 27 in SLC play. Although dropping from the starting lineup later in the year, he proved explosive off the bench, getting 12 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes to help spark a win at Nicholls State and scoring 17 in 24 minutes in a win at Sam Houston State. He finished with a team-best 35 dunks and was third in the SLC in blocked shots and sixth in rebounding.
In 1989-90: Scored 10.3 ppg and averaged 6.2 rebounds pg while starting 26 times and playing in all 29 games. Owens led the Demons in rebounding 10 times, with a high of 15 at Northeast La.., and led in scoring four times, with a high of 21 at NLU. He hit a team-high 55.7% of his shots from the field but sank just 41.9% of his free throws. Owens led the team in rebounding in four of the last five games. He had 16 points in his first college game to lead the Demons and his 18 points and 10 rebounds led a league-opening win at Stephen F. Austin.
At MacArthur HS: All-Greater Houston and all-city as a senior, Owens was the Generals' MVP and All-District 21-5A while averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds. He made two all-tournament teams and was team captain as a senior. As a junior in 1987-88, he clinched the district championship with two clutch free throws.
Personal: Jethro is the son of Moses and Alvenia Owens. His father is a pastor. He is one of four children, including his sister Algretta, his brother John and his brother Moses, who played basketball at Lamar and Wayland Baptist. Nicknamed "Hollywood" and "Wood," he is majoring in Englis and plans to graduate in May 1993
