Wright's Game Winner Seals 18-Point Comeback
12/31/2024 6:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON — Atin Wright hit a game-winning 3-pointer to cap off an 18-point comeback as the UNT men's basketball team opened American play with a 78-75 victory over reigning league tournament champion UAB at the Super Pit on Tuesday.
North Texas (10-3, 1-0) trailed by 18 in the final seconds of the first half and went into the break down 17. Early in the second half, the Mean Green locked in defensively and went on an 11-0 run to chip away at the deficit. Senior Latrell Jossell buried 3-pointer after 3-pointer, finishing with a single game season-high six and ending the game with 20 points, his 10th career 20-point game.
With 3:57 left in the game UNT captured its first lead since early in the first half as senior Johnathan Massie finished a layup to put North Texas up 71-69.
The game went back and forth from there on out but the final shot belonged to Wright who sank his contested 3-pointer as the clock hit zero. Wright finished with a game-high 22 points and was 11-11 from the free throw line.
"It really was a tale of two halves," head coach Ross Hodge said. "We've competed with these guys a lot through the years and it's hard to explain just how physical they drive the basketball and how aggressive they are. We locked in defensively and started grabbing rebounds and getting stops."
Next up for UNT will be a trip to No. 21 Memphis on Jan. 5. The Mean Green are aiming for their first road win over a top 25 opponent since 1971.
North Texas (10-3, 1-0) trailed by 18 in the final seconds of the first half and went into the break down 17. Early in the second half, the Mean Green locked in defensively and went on an 11-0 run to chip away at the deficit. Senior Latrell Jossell buried 3-pointer after 3-pointer, finishing with a single game season-high six and ending the game with 20 points, his 10th career 20-point game.
With 3:57 left in the game UNT captured its first lead since early in the first half as senior Johnathan Massie finished a layup to put North Texas up 71-69.
The game went back and forth from there on out but the final shot belonged to Wright who sank his contested 3-pointer as the clock hit zero. Wright finished with a game-high 22 points and was 11-11 from the free throw line.
"It really was a tale of two halves," head coach Ross Hodge said. "We've competed with these guys a lot through the years and it's hard to explain just how physical they drive the basketball and how aggressive they are. We locked in defensively and started grabbing rebounds and getting stops."
Next up for UNT will be a trip to No. 21 Memphis on Jan. 5. The Mean Green are aiming for their first road win over a top 25 opponent since 1971.
Team Stats
UAB
UNT
FG%
.411
.440
3FG%
.556
.429
FT%
.905
.962
RB
36
26
TO
13
9
STL
4
11
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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