University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann/TBT
Bleed Green Drop Heartbreaker In TBT
7/25/2022 7:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WICHITA, Kan. - Despite a game-high 25 points from Jordan Stevens, seventh-seeded Bleed Green dropped a heartbreaker to top-seeded Aftershocks on Monday night in a 70-69 loss in the third round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
The Bleed Green's Cinderella run ended after a Stevens 3-pointer gave the team comprised largely of former North Texas players a 69-68 lead with the winning target score in the Elam Ending set at 70. But Aftershocks were able to win the game on a bucket in the post, stopping Bleed Green from advancing to the quarterfinal round after knocking off two higher-seeded teams in the opening two rounds.
There were several times on Monday when it appeared Aftershocks had pulled away before the hot second-half shooting of Stevens and Brandon Jefferson continued to answer blows from the Aftershocks, a team made up primarily of former Wichita State players.
The North Texas team outscored Aftershocks 24-15 in the fourth quarter behind Stevens and Jefferson, who added 18 points on the night. Zachary Simmons (2021) tied for the team lead with six rebounds, as Bleed Green won the battle on the glass 35-28.
"While we are of course disappointed the run is over, we are very proud of our Bleed Green team," said team GM DJ Draper, who played for the Mean Green before graduating in 2020. "We came together and represented the scrappy heart of UNT and got to show the world, on a national stage, what makes the Bleed Green and the University of North Texas great. We also need to thank all the people behind the scenes that made this possible. Without them none of this happens. We are excited for next season's TBT Tournament and improving on what we accomplished this year."
Bleed Green earned an automatic bid to the 2023 TBT after winning at least one game in this year's tournament.
For more information on TBT, please visit TheTournament.com.
Â
The Bleed Green's Cinderella run ended after a Stevens 3-pointer gave the team comprised largely of former North Texas players a 69-68 lead with the winning target score in the Elam Ending set at 70. But Aftershocks were able to win the game on a bucket in the post, stopping Bleed Green from advancing to the quarterfinal round after knocking off two higher-seeded teams in the opening two rounds.
There were several times on Monday when it appeared Aftershocks had pulled away before the hot second-half shooting of Stevens and Brandon Jefferson continued to answer blows from the Aftershocks, a team made up primarily of former Wichita State players.
The North Texas team outscored Aftershocks 24-15 in the fourth quarter behind Stevens and Jefferson, who added 18 points on the night. Zachary Simmons (2021) tied for the team lead with six rebounds, as Bleed Green won the battle on the glass 35-28.
"While we are of course disappointed the run is over, we are very proud of our Bleed Green team," said team GM DJ Draper, who played for the Mean Green before graduating in 2020. "We came together and represented the scrappy heart of UNT and got to show the world, on a national stage, what makes the Bleed Green and the University of North Texas great. We also need to thank all the people behind the scenes that made this possible. Without them none of this happens. We are excited for next season's TBT Tournament and improving on what we accomplished this year."
Bleed Green earned an automatic bid to the 2023 TBT after winning at least one game in this year's tournament.
For more information on TBT, please visit TheTournament.com.
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballBroadcast Highlights vs Rice | Mean Green MBB
Thursday, March 05
MBB Postgame Press Conference | UNT vs. Rice
Thursday, March 05
Broadcast Highlights vs FAU | Mean Green MBB
Monday, February 23
MBB Postgame Press Conference | UNT vs. FAU
Monday, February 23