University of North Texas Athletics
Wednesday, December 17
Santa Cruz, CA
8 PM
University of North Texas
vs
Santa Clara
Mean Green Faces Santa Clara Wednesday
12/16/2025 2:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SANTA CRUZ, California – Just three days removed from a one-point road win, the UNT men's basketball team faces off against one of the top teams in the West Coast Conference, Santa Clara, Wednesday night in a neutral site match up.
The Mean Green (8-3) and the Broncos (8-3) are scheduled to tip off Wednesday from Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California, at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on KHYI 95.3 FM and on BallerTV.
Wednesday's matchup features two programs who each made the National Invitation Tournament last season and two programs who have made a combined seven NIT appearances in just the last four seasons. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the UNT and SCU but the first since 1981.
Santa Clara is led by head coach Herb Sendek who is in his 32nd season as a head coach, which has spanned over four institutions: Miami (OH.), North Carolina State, Arizona State and Santa Clara. Sendek is tied with Tulane's Ron Hunter as the most veteran opposing head coach UNT is scheduled to face this season.
Under Sendek, the Broncos have produced NBA first round draft picks in the Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski (2023) and NBA champion Jalen Williams (2022) of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Other notable SCU alums include Steve Nash (1995-96) and Kurt Rambis (1976-80).
Following Wednesday's game the Mean Green will return home to the Super Pit to play their final game before Christmas as they host University of Science and Arts Oklahoma on Dec. 22.
A Big Stretch
Wednesday's game against Santa Clara is an opportunity for the Mean Green to pick up a quad two victory. It also begins a stretch where five of their next six opponents will be quad two opponents.
Defense Travels
In road and neutral site games this year, UNT's defense is holding opponents to .98 points per possession. UNT's defensive efficiency in road/neutral site games ranks 43rd in the nation. UNT's defense on the road is holding opponents to 29.4 percent shooting from 3 (ranks 44th in the nation) and 45.2 percent from 2 (16th in the nation).
Four 20-Point Games
North Texas guard Je'Shawn Stevenson has had four 20-point games over the Mean Green's first 11 games of the year. It's the most 20-point games by a UNT player in the first 11 games of the year since Tristan Thompson had five over first 11 games of the 2010-11 season.
182 Points Through First 11 Games
Je'Shawn Stevenson has scored 182 points through the Mean Green's first 11 games of the season. It's the most points a UNT player has scored through the first 11 games of a season since Roosevelt Smart scored 191 points over the first 11 games of the 2017-18 season. Smart set the UNT single season scoring record that year (744).
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.
The Mean Green (8-3) and the Broncos (8-3) are scheduled to tip off Wednesday from Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California, at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on KHYI 95.3 FM and on BallerTV.
Wednesday's matchup features two programs who each made the National Invitation Tournament last season and two programs who have made a combined seven NIT appearances in just the last four seasons. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the UNT and SCU but the first since 1981.
Santa Clara is led by head coach Herb Sendek who is in his 32nd season as a head coach, which has spanned over four institutions: Miami (OH.), North Carolina State, Arizona State and Santa Clara. Sendek is tied with Tulane's Ron Hunter as the most veteran opposing head coach UNT is scheduled to face this season.
Under Sendek, the Broncos have produced NBA first round draft picks in the Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski (2023) and NBA champion Jalen Williams (2022) of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Other notable SCU alums include Steve Nash (1995-96) and Kurt Rambis (1976-80).
Following Wednesday's game the Mean Green will return home to the Super Pit to play their final game before Christmas as they host University of Science and Arts Oklahoma on Dec. 22.
A Big Stretch
Wednesday's game against Santa Clara is an opportunity for the Mean Green to pick up a quad two victory. It also begins a stretch where five of their next six opponents will be quad two opponents.
Defense Travels
In road and neutral site games this year, UNT's defense is holding opponents to .98 points per possession. UNT's defensive efficiency in road/neutral site games ranks 43rd in the nation. UNT's defense on the road is holding opponents to 29.4 percent shooting from 3 (ranks 44th in the nation) and 45.2 percent from 2 (16th in the nation).
Four 20-Point Games
North Texas guard Je'Shawn Stevenson has had four 20-point games over the Mean Green's first 11 games of the year. It's the most 20-point games by a UNT player in the first 11 games of the year since Tristan Thompson had five over first 11 games of the 2010-11 season.
182 Points Through First 11 Games
Je'Shawn Stevenson has scored 182 points through the Mean Green's first 11 games of the season. It's the most points a UNT player has scored through the first 11 games of a season since Roosevelt Smart scored 191 points over the first 11 games of the 2017-18 season. Smart set the UNT single season scoring record that year (744).
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.
Players Mentioned
Guard
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