University of North Texas
12-9,5-4AAC
South Florida
15-5,8-1AAC
Shorthanded Men's Hoops Falls Late To USF, 60-55
2/3/2024 8:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Mean Green (12-9, 5-4) were led in scoring by Jason Edwards who poured in 31 points for the second consecutive game. He's the first North Texas men's basketball player in over a decade to score 30 or more points in consecutive games.
UNT led at the half 31-26 and led by three with three minutes left in the game but couldn't get the stops late to pull put the shorthanded victory.
"I've got a lot of respect for Amir Abdou-Rahim and his program," said Mean Green head coach Ross Hodge of the Bulls' first-year head coach. "I thought we ultimately gave ourselves a chance to win the game but didn't execute defensively to win."
USF (15-5, 8-1), who sits atop the conference standings, was led in scoring by Chris Youngblood who scored 16 points and sank four 3-pointers. Youngblood hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 2:56 left in the game and hit two crucial free throws a minute later.
The Mean Green were without Noland to a groin injury he suffered in overtime on Wednesday versus UAB and Jones who has now missed seven games due to a hamstring injury.
"There are excuses and there are reasons," Hodge said. "Not having Jones and Noland makes things more difficult for sure. We're having to find new ways to win with the changing lineups. But we've been right there. We just today didn't execute late.
"What gives me a lot of hope is the belief and love everyone in that locker room has for each other," he added.
UNT will aim to bounce back on Wednesday as they travel to Tulsa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ 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.
