UNT Beats SMU In Front of Record Student Attendance

Thursday, January 25

Denton

6 PM CT

University of North Texas

12-6,5-1AAC

SMU

13-6,4-2AAC

SMU

North Texas

Photo by: Zach Del Bello

1/25/2024 9:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DENTON — The UNT men's basketball team beat SMU 68-66 at the Super Pit Thursday night in the first meeting between the two Metroplex schools since 2002.

Coming off a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the previous five games, John Buggs III was huge for the Mean Green (12-6, 5-1) as he was 4-of-4 from deep and sank two in the final four minutes to fend off the Mustangs (13-6, 4-2).

Jason Edwards was the game's leading scorer as he scored 22 points.

"That was the best home atmosphere I've ever played in," said the newcomer Edwards of the 7,239 fans and record 2,473 UNT students at the Super Pit Thursday. "I'm proud of our team and especially Buggs. He's been working super hard for this moment while he's been out."

Buggs and senior point guard Rubin Jones made their return Thursday after missing multiple games to injury. Jones sparked the offense early with assists. He finished with four in 20 minutes and North Texas finished with a season high 16 in the two-point win.

Buggs finished with 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc.

UNT held off SMU, who had won seven of its last eight entering the game, despite being without junior wing Aaron Scott who fouled out with three minutes to go and the Mean Green up four.

Scott finished with five points and four rebounds.

Senior Robert Allen had his 13th double-double of his career as he finished with a season-high 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds — six offensive rebounds.

Next up for the Mean Green is a trip to Boca Raton, Florida, for a road game at No. 22 Florida Atlantic on Sunday. The Owls are coming off their Final Four run from last season and return 14 of their 15 players. The game is scheduled to tip-off at noon CT and will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield.

For more information on UNT men's basketball tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or at ticketoffice@unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.