University of North Texas
-169,95 CUSA
Louisiana Tech
-217,124 CUSA
Mean Green Advance To C-USA Finals
3/12/2021 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FRISCO — For the third straight day, a strong all-around performance from Javion Hamlet and tough defensive effort proved to be the formula for North Texas as they knocked off Louisiana Tech, 54-48 in the semifinal of the 2021 Air Force Reserve C-USA Men's Basketball Championship presented by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center.
Hamlet led all scorers with 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists. In the Mean Green's three wins in Frisco, he is averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists.
"I wrote on the board I want the team to fight and be scrappy and that looked like about all we had," McCasland said with a laugh. "Javion once again orchestrated our offense and helped us settle in."
Mardrez McBride added 11 points for North Texas, connecting on a trio of 3-pointers. His final three came as LA Tech had cut the lead to two with just over four minutes remaining and helped seal the win.
North Texas (16-9) came out hot to start the second half. After missing a three-pointer on its first shot attempt of the half, the Mean Green went on a 10-0 run and hit six consecutive field goals to open up a 38-30 lead.
"We know we're going to win with effort on the defensive end," McCasland said.
UNT led the rest of the way.
The Mean Green have allowed an average of 53.0 points in its three wins this week to reach the title game.
Louisiana Tech (21-7) was led in scoring by Jacolby Pemberton with 12 points. Kenneth Lofton Jr. added 10 points and both players pulled down six rebounds.
"We have so much respect for LA Tech and Konkol," McCasland said. "They play so hard and have so much grit. They're awesome."
North Texas advances to the C-USA Championship title game vs. WKU on Saturday at 8 pm CT. The Mean Green will be making their first appearance in the C-USA Championship final as the teams battle for an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
North Texas last made the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
The Mean Green will look to become the fifth team in C-USA Championship history to win four games in four days to be crowned champion. Houston was the last school to accomplish the feat back in 2010.
For more updates on North Texas Men's Basketball, follow @MeanGreenMBB on Twitter.
