University of North Texas
12-7,5-2AAC
No. 22 Florida Atlantic
17-4,7-1AAC
No. 22 FAU Beats UNT on Last-Second Shot
1/28/2024 3:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Florida — The No. 22 Florida Atlantic beat the UNT men's basketball team on a last second off-balance 3-pointer by the Owls' Jonell Davis Sunday afternoon in Boca Raton, Florida.
On the possession prior to Davis' game winner, the Mean Green (12-7, 5-2) were nearly the ones who hit the go-ahead shot. North Texas' John Buggs III grabbed an offensive rebound at the top of the key. With 16 seconds left in the game and the score knotted at 63, Buggs fired the would-be go-ahead 3. However, it rimmed in and out and was recovered by FAU.
Buggs had made nine straight 3s prior to the miss.
"A high-level basketball game," said head coach Ross Hodge. "There's some little things we will go back and knit pick that add up that in the end you can't give to a really good team like FAU but I'm proud with the grittiness and toughness and togetherness we played with today."
After Buggs' miss, FAU (17-4, 7-1) grabbed the defensive rebound. It looked as if they weren't going to get off a clean shot and the game would go to overtime, however, the American's co-Preseason Player of the Year sank his desperation shot from the left wing with 0.5 seconds left.
The Mean Green, who were looking for their first road win over a ranked opponent since 1971, were led Sunday by senior Robert Allen who scored a season-high 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Allen left the game momentarily in the second half with a cut lip.
Four different UNT players scored in double figures. Jason Edwards and CJ Noland combined for 28 points.
UNT was without its senior point guard Rubin Jones Sunday due to a hamstring injury.
The Mean Green will be back in action Wednesday as they host UAB at the Super Pit at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU 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.
