University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Set Sights On CBI Championship
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| North Texas men's basketball vs. San Francisco (CBI finals) | |
| Date | Time | Friday, March 30 | 6 p.m. |
| Location | Denton, TX | The Super Pit |
| Live Stats | meangreenstats.com |
| TV | ESPNU - Roy Philpott (PxP), Jason Capel (Color) |
| Radio | MGRN - 88.1 KNTU-FM, 95.3 KHYI-FM - John Liddle (PxP), Hank Dickenson (Color) |
| @MeanGreenMBB | |
| Game Notes | North Texas | USF |
DENTON - The North Texas men's basketball team is one win away from being crowned the College Basketball Invitational champions. The decisive game three will tip-off at 6 p.m. at the Super Pit on Friday, March 30.
The Mean Green (19-18) forced a game three after a solid defensive effort against San Francisco 69-55 in game two. North Texas outscored the Dons 36-24 in the second half and won the game despite only shooting 2-for-18 from the three-point line. Junior Jorden Duffy finished with a team-high 15 points.
For the ninth time in 11 years, the CBI will play a third and final game in the championship series. UNT is looking to become the fifth team to lose game one and win both home games to secure the CBI championship. North Texas is the only remaining Texas school and Conference USA member to still be playing for a postseason national tournament championship.
More than one-year ago on March 14, 2017, head coach Grant McCasland told fans winning would happen sooner than later. With a win in game three would give North Texas its first winning season since 2011-12 and first 20-win season since 2010-11. It would be the 10th 20-win season in Mean Green history.
"Basketball is going to be fun," McCasland said at his introductory press conference last March. "We are going to win and there is going to be enough energy early to build belief to where we want to go."
The belief is certainly building with fans as game two of the CBI championship hosted 4,196 fans, the largest crowd at the Super Pit this season.
"The time to get on board is now because the Mean Green is destined for some special moments," McCasland said.
North Texas has a chance for a special moment to cut down nets at the Super Pit.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the first 2,000 fans will receive an Easter egg with potential prizes inside. Fans can also take pictures with the Easter bunny at Gate C.
About the Opponent: San Francisco (CBI finals, game three)
• This will be the third meeting between the two schools in a span of five days. North Texas lost the first meeting in game one of the CBI finals on the road at San Francisco 72-62. The Dons hit 14 three-pointers and dished out 20 assists in the victory. In the second meeting, North Texas used strong defense to win 69-55 holding the Dons to just 9-for-30 shooting from downtown. Jorden Duffy scored 15 points in the win for North Texas.
• The University of San Francisco is 22-16 on the season and holds a 4-8 road record. The Dons earned all four CBI wins at home against Colgate 72-68, Utah Valley 78-73, Campbell 65-62 and North Texas 72-62. Their last road win came on Feb. 22 at Pacific 84-74.
• Frankie Ferrari, first-team all-league, leads the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game and in assists with 174. Freshman Souley Boum is second on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game and was named to the all-freshman team. Matt McCarthy leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 boards per game and Nate Renfro is second at 5.1 boards per game.
• The Dons are 7-3 in their last 10 games and defeated 15th-ranked Saint Mary's earlier in the season. It is the first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1981 and `82 seasons.
• USF is one of 16 teams that own multiple NCAA Championships. The Dons won back-to-back championships in 1955 and `56 led by future NBA Hall of Famers Bill Russell and KC Jones. Russell was a first-team All-America averaging 20 points and 20 rebounds per game.
• San Francisco extended their school-record with 321 makes from downtown. The Dons have four players who have hit 40 or more three-pointers this season. Jordan Ratinho leads the team with 84.
• The Dons are 17-2 on the season when they outrebound their opponents and are 19-2 when they hold a halftime lead.
