Friday, December 4
Starkville, MS
7 p.m.
University of North Texas
-12,00 CUSA
63
at
69
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
2-2,0-0SEC
1
2
F
North Texas
20
43
63
Mississippi St.
29
40
69
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Comeback Falls Short At Mississippi State
12/4/2020 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Mississippi — The North Texas men's basketball lost 69-63 at Mississippi State Friday night.
The Mean Green (1-2) outscored the Bulldogs (2-2) in the second-half and were within six points for most of the last five minutes of the game but couldn't make the run to go ahead. The large MSU Bulldogs outscored the Mean Green 44-22 in the paint.
UNT was led by freshman Rubin Jones who finished with a season-high 14 points and made a season-high four 3-pointers on just five attempts. He had 11 points in the second-half and made a couple clutch late 3-pointers to keep the momentum on UNT's side.
"Offensive rebounds and put-backs in key moments really hurt us, " said head coach Grant McCasland. "They got the ball in the paint late in the game and it was the difference."
UNT and MSU are known for their slow pace of play and in the first half it showed as the slow place combined with a low shooting percentage led to just 20 first half points for the Mean Green. Mississippi was not much better as they scored 29 first-half points.
But in the final eight minutes of the game, the Mean Green began to find their offensive rhythm. In the final eight minutes they scored 18 points and also found their stroke from deep.
They just couldn't get defensive stops and ran out of time.
Four Mean Green players scored in double figures. Along with Jones, senior Zachary Simmons had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas Bell had 11 points as well and Javion Hamlet had 10 points to go along with five assists.
"I'm happy for Rubin. He's worked hard," McCasland said. "I think we have great individual talent. We moved the ball well at times and generated great shots, but I think this shows we have to do it every possession in order to win. And the same goes for defense.
"We're getting there," he added.
For more information on North Texas Men's Basketball, follow @MeanGreenMBB on Twitter.
The Mean Green (1-2) outscored the Bulldogs (2-2) in the second-half and were within six points for most of the last five minutes of the game but couldn't make the run to go ahead. The large MSU Bulldogs outscored the Mean Green 44-22 in the paint.
UNT was led by freshman Rubin Jones who finished with a season-high 14 points and made a season-high four 3-pointers on just five attempts. He had 11 points in the second-half and made a couple clutch late 3-pointers to keep the momentum on UNT's side.
"Offensive rebounds and put-backs in key moments really hurt us, " said head coach Grant McCasland. "They got the ball in the paint late in the game and it was the difference."
UNT and MSU are known for their slow pace of play and in the first half it showed as the slow place combined with a low shooting percentage led to just 20 first half points for the Mean Green. Mississippi was not much better as they scored 29 first-half points.
But in the final eight minutes of the game, the Mean Green began to find their offensive rhythm. In the final eight minutes they scored 18 points and also found their stroke from deep.
They just couldn't get defensive stops and ran out of time.
Four Mean Green players scored in double figures. Along with Jones, senior Zachary Simmons had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas Bell had 11 points as well and Javion Hamlet had 10 points to go along with five assists.
"I'm happy for Rubin. He's worked hard," McCasland said. "I think we have great individual talent. We moved the ball well at times and generated great shots, but I think this shows we have to do it every possession in order to win. And the same goes for defense.
"We're getting there," he added.
For more information on North Texas Men's Basketball, follow @MeanGreenMBB on Twitter.
Team Stats
UNT
MSU
FG%
.357
.481
3FG%
.304
.100
FT%
.800
.727
RB
34
38
TO
9
10
STL
2
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballDaniyal Robinson Introductory Press Conference | Mean Green MBB
Monday, April 07
DANIYAL ROBINSON INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, April 02
Recap vs Oklahoma State | NIT 2025 | Mean Green MBB
Thursday, March 27
Broadcast Highlights vs Charlotte| Mean Green MBB
Friday, March 07