Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
UNT Scores 98 In Seventh Straight Win
1/23/2020 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON — On a night where the North Texas men's basketball team honored its 2009-10 team, which won the 2010 Sun Belt Conference championship, the Mean Green did something even their distinguished guest didn't do.
On Thursday, North Texas won its seventh straight game as they beat UT San Antonio 98-78 and improved to 7-1 in conference play.
The 98 points scored by the Mean Green (13-8, 7-1 C-USA) on Thursday was a season-high versus a division I opponent.
"I'm really proud of how we defended in the second-half," said head coach Grant McCasland. "Give UTSA credit, they have a tremendous offense with awesome playmakers."
UNT (13-8, 7-1 C-USA) held the league's top offense to just eight points in the game's final seven minutes as they pulled away from the Roadrunners (9-11, 3-4 C-USA) and increased its lead from single digits to the eventual 20-point win.
North Texas started hot, making 10 of its first 11 field goal attempts and built off that as they never trailed on Thursday and committed a season-low four turnovers — six fewer than its previous low.
North Texas was led by Umoja Gibson and Javion Hamlet.
Gibson scored a season-high 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
With 22 points, Hamlet had his second consecutive game with 20 or more points. He added six assists and had his second straight game with no turnovers.
Junior Thomas Bell recorded his first career double-double. He scored 11 points and had a career-high 15 rebounds off the bench for UNT. Fellow junior James Reese scored a career-high 18 points after throwing down the nail in the coffin ally-oop in the game's final seconds.
"We're feeling good but we know we still have a long ways to go and we haven't accomplished anything until we're holding a championship trophy," Hamlet said.
North Texas remains at home and hosts UTEP on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Mean Green Sports Network to try and extend its winning streak to eight, which would tie McCasland's longest winning streak at UNT,
On Thursday, North Texas won its seventh straight game as they beat UT San Antonio 98-78 and improved to 7-1 in conference play.
The 98 points scored by the Mean Green (13-8, 7-1 C-USA) on Thursday was a season-high versus a division I opponent.
"I'm really proud of how we defended in the second-half," said head coach Grant McCasland. "Give UTSA credit, they have a tremendous offense with awesome playmakers."
UNT (13-8, 7-1 C-USA) held the league's top offense to just eight points in the game's final seven minutes as they pulled away from the Roadrunners (9-11, 3-4 C-USA) and increased its lead from single digits to the eventual 20-point win.
North Texas started hot, making 10 of its first 11 field goal attempts and built off that as they never trailed on Thursday and committed a season-low four turnovers — six fewer than its previous low.
North Texas was led by Umoja Gibson and Javion Hamlet.
Gibson scored a season-high 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
With 22 points, Hamlet had his second consecutive game with 20 or more points. He added six assists and had his second straight game with no turnovers.
Junior Thomas Bell recorded his first career double-double. He scored 11 points and had a career-high 15 rebounds off the bench for UNT. Fellow junior James Reese scored a career-high 18 points after throwing down the nail in the coffin ally-oop in the game's final seconds.
"We're feeling good but we know we still have a long ways to go and we haven't accomplished anything until we're holding a championship trophy," Hamlet said.
North Texas remains at home and hosts UTEP on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Mean Green Sports Network to try and extend its winning streak to eight, which would tie McCasland's longest winning streak at UNT,
Team Stats
UTSA
UNT
FG%
.473
.550
3FG%
.450
.500
FT%
.654
.750
RB
28
37
TO
11
4
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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