Sunday, March 20
Denton
5 P.M. CT
University of North Texas
-257,162 CUSA
69
vs
71
Virginia
21-13,12-8ACC
1
2
OT 1
F
Virginia
26
29
16
71
North Texas
24
31
14
69
Photo by: Zach Del Bello
UNT's Season Ends With OT Loss To Virginia
3/20/2022 9:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON — The North Texas men's basketball team's season came to an end Sunday.
The Mean Green (25-7) lost in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, 71-69, in overtime to Virginia (21-13) at the Super Pit.
UNT finishes the season with a program-record 25 wins, the nation's best scoring defense (55.7), the most league wins in school history (16) and a Conference USA record single season scoring defense.
North Texas' 15-game winning streak that lasted from Jan. 8 through March 3 was also a school record.
"I'm sad that it's the end," said head coach Grant McCasland. "I'm going to miss going to practice with these guys. I'm going to miss how hard this team competes. They broke all these records and they were picked to finish sixth in the league. It's a special group."
The Mean Green earned the 2022 NIT bid after capturing the 2022 C-USA regular season championship. It's the program's third straight league trophy — the first time in school history they've won a league title in three consecutive years.
On Sunday, North Texas battled back from a 10-point second half deficit with 11 minutes remaining in regulation and a seven-point deficit with seven and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
UNT held the 2019 national champion Cavaliers without a point for the final five and a half minutes of regulation as the Mean Green stormed back from six points down.
With 2:30 left in regulation, North Texas' Tylor Perry scored a four-point play with a 3-pointer and foul to tie the game at 55 a piece.
In overtime, UVA made 3-of-4 from deep.
Despite Virginia's hot overtime shooting, in the final seconds, UNT converted a deep in bound pass to Perry who dribbled to his right and shot a 30-foot would-be game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the backboard, then the front of the iron and rimmed out as the buzzer rang.
"I'm proud of everyone in that locker room," said Perry. "We gave everything tonight and have fought all year and accomplished so much."
Sunday, North Texas was led by Mardrez McBride who scored a game-high 21 points and tied his career-high with six 3-pointers. Five of the six he made came in the second half and overtime period.
Sophomore Abou Ousmane and Perry each scored 16 points.
Senior Thomas Bell who is the program's active career leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks ended his college career by recording his seventh career double-double as he had 12 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and a career-high six assists. The 12 rebounds and six assists led the team Sunday.
UNT was without its starting point guard Rubin Jones Sunday who was a game-time scratch due to a lower body strain. McBride, Bell and Perry all recorded a career-high 45 minutes of playing time against Virginia.
The Mean Green (25-7) lost in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, 71-69, in overtime to Virginia (21-13) at the Super Pit.
UNT finishes the season with a program-record 25 wins, the nation's best scoring defense (55.7), the most league wins in school history (16) and a Conference USA record single season scoring defense.
North Texas' 15-game winning streak that lasted from Jan. 8 through March 3 was also a school record.
"I'm sad that it's the end," said head coach Grant McCasland. "I'm going to miss going to practice with these guys. I'm going to miss how hard this team competes. They broke all these records and they were picked to finish sixth in the league. It's a special group."
The Mean Green earned the 2022 NIT bid after capturing the 2022 C-USA regular season championship. It's the program's third straight league trophy — the first time in school history they've won a league title in three consecutive years.
On Sunday, North Texas battled back from a 10-point second half deficit with 11 minutes remaining in regulation and a seven-point deficit with seven and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
UNT held the 2019 national champion Cavaliers without a point for the final five and a half minutes of regulation as the Mean Green stormed back from six points down.
With 2:30 left in regulation, North Texas' Tylor Perry scored a four-point play with a 3-pointer and foul to tie the game at 55 a piece.
In overtime, UVA made 3-of-4 from deep.
Despite Virginia's hot overtime shooting, in the final seconds, UNT converted a deep in bound pass to Perry who dribbled to his right and shot a 30-foot would-be game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the backboard, then the front of the iron and rimmed out as the buzzer rang.
"I'm proud of everyone in that locker room," said Perry. "We gave everything tonight and have fought all year and accomplished so much."
Sunday, North Texas was led by Mardrez McBride who scored a game-high 21 points and tied his career-high with six 3-pointers. Five of the six he made came in the second half and overtime period.
Sophomore Abou Ousmane and Perry each scored 16 points.
Senior Thomas Bell who is the program's active career leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks ended his college career by recording his seventh career double-double as he had 12 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and a career-high six assists. The 12 rebounds and six assists led the team Sunday.
UNT was without its starting point guard Rubin Jones Sunday who was a game-time scratch due to a lower body strain. McBride, Bell and Perry all recorded a career-high 45 minutes of playing time against Virginia.
Team Stats
UVa
UNT
FG%
.481
.446
3FG%
.529
.364
FT%
.526
.786
RB
31
35
TO
6
11
STL
7
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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