University of North Texas
-214,141 CUSA
Southern Miss
-622,114 CUSA
Ousmane leads UNT to 13th straight win
2/24/2022 9:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNT one victory shy of tying win-streak record
DENTON, Texas – Abou Ousmane scored 21 points as UNT men's basketball won its 13th consecutive game with a 85-61 win over Southern Miss Thursday night at the Super Pit.
The victory improved North Texas to 21-4 overall and 14-1 in Conference USA action. The 14 league victories tie the program record set in 2019-20. With 13 straight wins, the Mean Green are now one win away from equaling the team-best mark of 14 set at the close of the 1977-78 season.
Thursday's win was also fifth year UNT head coach Grant McCasland's 100th with the Mean Green.
"It's about the guys," McCasland said. "It's about the people who have given a lot to this program over the last five years. The Javion Hamlet, Umoja Gibson, Jorden Duffy, Deng Geu, Abou Ousmane etc. They're the reason we're here and the reason 100 is special."
"Again, proud of this team tonight for staying tough and battling," he added. "Abou was a monster tonight."
Ousmane, who had 15 points at the half, posted his 16th double-figure scoring game of the season. The sophomore set a new career high at the line converting 7-of-10 free throws. He was 7-of-9 from the floor with five rebounds.
The Mean Green built a 39-19 lead at the break thanks to another strong defensive half. UNT held Southern Miss to 7-of-23 shooting (30.4 percent) in the first half, including a 0-of-5 mark from outside the arc. USM finished the game 20-of-47 (43 percent) overall and just 3-of-11 (27 percent) from beyond the arc.
Thomas Bell capped a 15-2 run over the first eight-plus minutes of the game with a fastbreak slam after the senior made a steal at mid-court. The bucket gave UNT an early 17-6 lead.
North Texas had seven steals, forced 16 turnovers and scored 22 points off those miscues.
Southern Miss (6-22, 1-14 CUSA) cut UNT's lead to 14 points twice in the second half, but both times the Mean Green answered first with a two by Aaron Scott then a trey from Mardrez McBride.
Four UNT players scored in double figures in the win including Ousmane, Tylor Perry (14), McBride (12) and Thomas Bell (10). Rubin Jones tied his career high with three 3-pointers. Perry added seven rebounds and five assists.
Walyn Napper scored 17 points to lead the Golden Eagles who have lost 11 straight games and 14 of 15.
UNT is in action next this Saturday at the Super Pit when it hosts LA Tech at 3 pm CT on Stadium and the Mean Green Sports Network in the final home game of the season.
"We know LA Tech is going to give us everything they have and is going to battle," McCasland said. "We have to forget about the outside noise and be the tougher team. We know (LA Tech) is going to bring it."
