Saturday, January 16
The Super Pit
3 PM
University of North Texas
-75,31 CUSA
74
vs
65
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UTEP
-66,24 CUSA
1
2
F
UTEP
31
34
65
North Texas
30
44
74
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Mean Green Make Plays Late To Win, 74-65
1/16/2021 5:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON — The North Texas men's basketball team beat UTEP 74-65 on Saturday at the Super Pit for its second victory over the Miners in as many days.
UNT (7-5, 3-1) had five players score in double figures none more than 13. Zachary Simmons and Javion Hamlet led the way with 13 each.
North Texas beat UTEP (6-6, 2-4) by 30 on Friday but on Saturday the game was much tighter. There were 12 lead changes, most late in the game, but in the final six minutes the Mean Green outscored UTEP 21-12 to pull out the home victory. It's UNT's 16th home victory in its last 17 and the fourth straight time they've beaten the Miners.
"Getting those stops late are everything," said head coach Grant McCasland. "Early in the game they were scoring off our turnovers and missed shots but at the end of the game there was none of that. That's how you play."
UNT crushed UTEP in transition on Friday, holding the fast pace team to zero points on the break. On Saturday the Miners got out in transition more easily and made shots early to take a decent lead.
UTEP led 11-2 to start the game.
But steadily the Mean Green worked their way back into the game. They cut down on their turnovers and they limited UTEP's opportunities to score in transition and trailed UTEP by just one at the half.
Neither team led by much for most of the second half but down the stretch the Mean Green made the winning plays to hold off the talented Miners. Whether it was a put-back layup, or clutch defensive rebound or a great pass late in the shot clock, UNT found the way to win it Saturday. It was similar to what they did all of last year when they won the Conference USA championship.
Also scoring in double figures on Saturday was redshirt senior JJ Murray. The former walk-on had a career-high 11 points and three rebounds to help lead the Mean Green to victory.
"This week JJ was in the gym every night working on scoring with contact," McCasland said. "It showed today."
UNT will hit the road next week and travel to Old Dominion to face the Monarchs on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is schedule to tip-off at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Mean Green Sports Network Learfield IMG College.
Full recap to come.
UNT (7-5, 3-1) had five players score in double figures none more than 13. Zachary Simmons and Javion Hamlet led the way with 13 each.
North Texas beat UTEP (6-6, 2-4) by 30 on Friday but on Saturday the game was much tighter. There were 12 lead changes, most late in the game, but in the final six minutes the Mean Green outscored UTEP 21-12 to pull out the home victory. It's UNT's 16th home victory in its last 17 and the fourth straight time they've beaten the Miners.
"Getting those stops late are everything," said head coach Grant McCasland. "Early in the game they were scoring off our turnovers and missed shots but at the end of the game there was none of that. That's how you play."
UNT crushed UTEP in transition on Friday, holding the fast pace team to zero points on the break. On Saturday the Miners got out in transition more easily and made shots early to take a decent lead.
UTEP led 11-2 to start the game.
But steadily the Mean Green worked their way back into the game. They cut down on their turnovers and they limited UTEP's opportunities to score in transition and trailed UTEP by just one at the half.
Neither team led by much for most of the second half but down the stretch the Mean Green made the winning plays to hold off the talented Miners. Whether it was a put-back layup, or clutch defensive rebound or a great pass late in the shot clock, UNT found the way to win it Saturday. It was similar to what they did all of last year when they won the Conference USA championship.
Also scoring in double figures on Saturday was redshirt senior JJ Murray. The former walk-on had a career-high 11 points and three rebounds to help lead the Mean Green to victory.
"This week JJ was in the gym every night working on scoring with contact," McCasland said. "It showed today."
UNT will hit the road next week and travel to Old Dominion to face the Monarchs on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is schedule to tip-off at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Mean Green Sports Network Learfield IMG College.
Full recap to come.
Team Stats
UTEP
UNT
FG%
.375
.532
3FG%
.375
.500
FT%
.737
.800
RB
32
30
TO
8
8
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
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