University of North Texas
-256,162 CUSA
Texas State
21-8,12-3Sun Belt
Mean Green Advance To NIT Second Round
3/15/2022 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON — The North Texas men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the 2022 National Invitation Tournament Tuesday with a 67-63 overtime victory against Texas State at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green who captured their 25th win of the season on Tuesday breaking a program record, were down seven points with 47 seconds to go in regulation but dug in to send the game to overtime. In the overtime period UNT (25-6) outscored TXST (21-8) 10-6 to capture the victory.
"Toughest team wins," said senior Mardrez McBride who scored a career-high 24 points and tied his career-high with six made 3-pointers. "We've been in plenty of these games this season. There's a lot of fight in that locker room. You don't get to 25 wins without a lot of fight and grit."
Trailing by two points and with two seconds left in regulation, the Mean Green's Tylor Perry was fouled shooting a 3-pointer. Perry made two of three at the line to send the game into the overtime period.
In the overtime period, North Texas was without senior Thomas Bell who is the program's active career leader in points, rebounds and assists as he fouled out in the final seconds of the second period. But McBride and sophomore Rubin Jones stepped up as they combined to go 6-of-6 at the free throw line to seal the victory.
Tuesday was the Mean Green's (25-6) fifth straight overtime victory and Grant McCasland is now 8-1 in overtime games as UNT's head coach. Tuesday was the team's first overtime game since their 78-69 overtime victory over Purdue in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
UNT will play the winner of Mississippi State and Virginia who play Wednesday night. The game will be played either Saturday or Sunday. Stay tuned for updates on opponent and broadcast information.
