Friday, January 29
Houston, TX
2 P.M.
University of North Texas
-85,41 CUSA
79
at
74
Rice
-107,45 CUSA
1
2
F
North Texas
36
43
79
Rice
37
37
74
Photo by: Luke Della
Hamlet's 30 Points Leads UNT In 79-74 Win
1/29/2021 3:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — The North Texas men's basketball team beat Rice in Houston 79-74 Friday afternoon behind a career-high 30 points from Javion Hamlet.
Hamlet scored 22 of his 30 in the second half and seven in the final minute to hold off Rice (10-7, 4-5) as they remained within a possession of the Mean Green (8-5, 4-1).
"I'm proud of how we fought back today," Hamlet said. "We know we're capable of playing like we did in the second half and better every game for the whole game."
North Texas trailed Rice at halftime, 37-36, after shooting 2-of-13 from deep and turning it over eight times.
However, early in the second half the Mean Green went on a 8-0 run and retook the lead with 18:39 remaining and never trailed again from that point on. UNT was 5-of-8 from deep in the second half and forced 10 Owl turnovers. Furthermore, they held Rice's leading scorer Quincy Olivari to just five points in the second half and all came at the free throw line. Olivari entered Friday averaging 16 points per game and finished with just seven.
"Our defense in the second half led to good offense," Hamlet said. "We just got to make sure we do it again on Sunday, because they can put up points if you're not locked in."
The win improves the Mean Green to 4-1 in league play and keeps them in the Conference USA West Division title race right behind UAB who after their win at Middle Tennessee Thursday is 6-1 in C-USA.
UNT returns to the Super Pit on Sunday to host Rice at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and on the Mean Green Sports Network Learfield IMG College.
For more information on North Texas Men's Basketball, follow @MeanGreenMBB on Twitter.
Hamlet scored 22 of his 30 in the second half and seven in the final minute to hold off Rice (10-7, 4-5) as they remained within a possession of the Mean Green (8-5, 4-1).
"I'm proud of how we fought back today," Hamlet said. "We know we're capable of playing like we did in the second half and better every game for the whole game."
North Texas trailed Rice at halftime, 37-36, after shooting 2-of-13 from deep and turning it over eight times.
However, early in the second half the Mean Green went on a 8-0 run and retook the lead with 18:39 remaining and never trailed again from that point on. UNT was 5-of-8 from deep in the second half and forced 10 Owl turnovers. Furthermore, they held Rice's leading scorer Quincy Olivari to just five points in the second half and all came at the free throw line. Olivari entered Friday averaging 16 points per game and finished with just seven.
"Our defense in the second half led to good offense," Hamlet said. "We just got to make sure we do it again on Sunday, because they can put up points if you're not locked in."
The win improves the Mean Green to 4-1 in league play and keeps them in the Conference USA West Division title race right behind UAB who after their win at Middle Tennessee Thursday is 6-1 in C-USA.
UNT returns to the Super Pit on Sunday to host Rice at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and on the Mean Green Sports Network Learfield IMG College.
For more information on North Texas Men's Basketball, follow @MeanGreenMBB on Twitter.
Team Stats
UNT
Rice
FG%
.500
.522
3FG%
.333
.474
FT%
.824
.708
RB
31
26
TO
15
18
STL
9
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
10
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
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