Mean Green Fall To FAU In AAC Quarterfinals

Friday, March 15

Fort Worth, TX

6:00 PM

University of North Texas

18-14,10-8AAC

No. 2 Florida Atlantic

25-7,14-4AAC

North Texas

Fla. Atlantic

3/15/2024 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FORT WORTH — The UNT men's basketball team was eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship with a 77-71 loss to Florida Atlantic at Dickies Arena Friday night.

The Mean Green (18-14) led for nearly 13 minutes in the second half and had its largest lead of the game at the under 8 media timeout of the second half. But the reigning Final Four participant Owls (25-7) who returned nearly its entire roster from last season made the plays late to pull out the victory.

"I'm super proud of the guys in the locker room," said North Texas head coach Ross Hodge. "Everything this team went through this year and to stay together like they did is super special. We of course have a ton of respect for (FAU) coach May and their team. I think their experience and togetherness showed late."

UNT was led in scoring Friday by Jason Edwards who poured in a game-high 26 points. It was his 13th 20-point game of the year. CJ Noland followed up his 23-point performance last night with another solid showing as he scored 13 points and was 2-of-2 from deep.

North Texas' 18 wins are the third most by a first-year Mean Green head coach and its 10 league wins this year were the most by a first-year Mean Green head coach.