Tuesday, November 9
Denton
7:30 PM CT
University of North Texas
-10,00 CUSA
84
vs
53
Oklahoma Christian
0-0,0-0Lone Star
1
2
F
Okla. Christian
27
26
53
North Texas
42
42
84
Photo by: Zach Del Bello
Reigning Champs Start Year With 31-Point Win
11/9/2021 10:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON – The back-to-back defending Conference USA champion North Texas men's basketball team began the 2021-22 season Tuesday with a 84-53 win over Oklahoma Christian at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green (1-0) were led Tuesday by newcomer Tylor Perry who scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Coffeyville transfer sank five 3-pointers in his debut.
Five North Texas players scored in double figures including preseason all-conference selection Thomas Bell who had 14 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday night.
"It was a good start but there's a lot of room to grow, which is also great," Perry said after the win. "I scored all of my points off passes from my teammates. It wasn't just one guy out there doing it we had a great team performance and that's what's so good about this team. We have lots of guys that can do it."
The day started with the team raising its conference championship and NCAA Round of 32 banners and ended with head coach Grant McCasland collecting his 100th career win at the DI level — his 80th with UNT.
"This isn't just me," McCasland said. " It's 100 wins for coach Hodge, coach Dowling, Jahmiah (Simmons) — who has been by our side since the beginning for now six years — and everyone else that has been along for the ride."
Though Tuesday's contest ended in a 31-point win, it wasn't a breeze for the Mean Green.
For most of the second half UNT struggled to break away from Oklahoma Christian who kept within 12-15 points of the defending champs, just one run away from making it really close. It wasn't until a 15-2 run over the final 3:44 that blew the score open.
"That's a really good team," McCasland said of Oklahoma Christian. "They have some dudes who can play and they made us make mistakes and not shoot great. But I think it says a lot about our team that we can have five guys score in double figures on a night where Drez and Rubin don't shoot the ball that well."
UNT had 12 turnovers Tuesday that resulted in 16 points for the Eagles. North Texas shot just 10-of-29 from 3-point range and left seven points at the free throw line as they were 6-of-13 there.
Perry's sharp shooting, which led him to being the 2021 NJCAA National Tournament MVP, combined with a dominate performance in the paint helped keep Oklahoma Christian at bay and UNT come away with the 31-point victory.
"We attacked the paint well," said sixth-year senior JJ Murray who finished with a career-high 13 points and career-best seven rebounds in his first collegiate start. "Abou was killing it down low and we finished with 43 points in the paint. That's pretty good."
UNT Sophomore Abou Ousmane tied his career-high with 10 points. The Brooklyn, New York native made his first five field goal attempts on Tuesday, all in the first half.
The Mean Green will be back in action Monday as they host Buffalo from the Super Pit. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
The Mean Green (1-0) were led Tuesday by newcomer Tylor Perry who scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Coffeyville transfer sank five 3-pointers in his debut.
Five North Texas players scored in double figures including preseason all-conference selection Thomas Bell who had 14 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday night.
"It was a good start but there's a lot of room to grow, which is also great," Perry said after the win. "I scored all of my points off passes from my teammates. It wasn't just one guy out there doing it we had a great team performance and that's what's so good about this team. We have lots of guys that can do it."
The day started with the team raising its conference championship and NCAA Round of 32 banners and ended with head coach Grant McCasland collecting his 100th career win at the DI level — his 80th with UNT.
"This isn't just me," McCasland said. " It's 100 wins for coach Hodge, coach Dowling, Jahmiah (Simmons) — who has been by our side since the beginning for now six years — and everyone else that has been along for the ride."
Though Tuesday's contest ended in a 31-point win, it wasn't a breeze for the Mean Green.
For most of the second half UNT struggled to break away from Oklahoma Christian who kept within 12-15 points of the defending champs, just one run away from making it really close. It wasn't until a 15-2 run over the final 3:44 that blew the score open.
"That's a really good team," McCasland said of Oklahoma Christian. "They have some dudes who can play and they made us make mistakes and not shoot great. But I think it says a lot about our team that we can have five guys score in double figures on a night where Drez and Rubin don't shoot the ball that well."
UNT had 12 turnovers Tuesday that resulted in 16 points for the Eagles. North Texas shot just 10-of-29 from 3-point range and left seven points at the free throw line as they were 6-of-13 there.
Perry's sharp shooting, which led him to being the 2021 NJCAA National Tournament MVP, combined with a dominate performance in the paint helped keep Oklahoma Christian at bay and UNT come away with the 31-point victory.
"We attacked the paint well," said sixth-year senior JJ Murray who finished with a career-high 13 points and career-best seven rebounds in his first collegiate start. "Abou was killing it down low and we finished with 43 points in the paint. That's pretty good."
UNT Sophomore Abou Ousmane tied his career-high with 10 points. The Brooklyn, New York native made his first five field goal attempts on Tuesday, all in the first half.
The Mean Green will be back in action Monday as they host Buffalo from the Super Pit. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
OC
UNT
FG%
.420
.548
3FG%
.417
.345
FT%
.600
.462
RB
27
37
TO
21
12
STL
10
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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