University of North Texas Athletics
Sunday, January 4
3 PM
University of North Texas
vs
Tulsa
Mean Green Host Tulsa In Home Conference Opener
1/3/2026 8:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON – One of the American Conference's top defenses and one of the league's top offenses face off Sunday afternoon as the UNT men's basketball team hosts Tulsa at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green (9-5, 0-1) and Golden Hurricane (13-1, 1-0) are scheduled to tip-off at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on KHYI 95.3 FM and on ESPN+.
Sunday will be the 56th all-time meeting between UNT and Tulsa and the fourth since the Mean Green joined the American Conference in 2023. Tulsa leads the all-time series history, 38-17, however, North Texas is undefeated versus the Golden Hurricane since joining the league two seasons ago.
Sunday's matchup pins the Mean Green who own the league's top scoring defense, holding opponents to 63.1 points per game, against the Golden Hurricane who average 89 points per game and have one of the nation's top scoring margins. Tulsa enters Sunday having won 13 of its 14 games by an average margin of 20 points.
After Sunday's game the Mean Green will remain at home and host South Florida at the Super Pit Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT. The Bulls (8-5) have yet to play a conference game but host UAB Sunday.
CHALLENGING START TO LEAGUE PLAY
UNT's first four league games are against the top four ranked American teams per KenPom and per the NCAA NET ranking system: at Memphis (73/104), vs. Tulsa (66/38), vs. South Florida (84/68) and at Wichita State (88/78). Entering Sunday, Tulsa is the highest ranked American team per KenPom and the NCAA NET at 66/38. All four of UNT's first four league games are Quad 2 games.
DEFENDING THE ARC
UNT enters Sunday with the American's best and the nation's 18th best 3-point defense. UNT opponents are shooting just 28.2 percent from deep against the Mean Green.
GRAND THEFT GREEN
UNT averages 9.7 steals per game, that ranks 27th in the nation and second in the American behind USF (10.6/game). While UNT averages fewer steals per game than USF, the Mean Green lead the league in steal percentage (UNT averages fewer possessions per game than USF). UNT's defense averages a steal on 13 percent of all possessions. That leads the American and ranks 27th in the nation. UNT had 14 steals on Wednesday at Memphis. It was its most steals against a DI opponent this season and most since they had 15 against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Dec 21, 2019. It was its most steals in a road game since they had 16 on Dec. 18, 2018 at New Mexico. UNT enters Sunday averaging 14.3 steals per game over its last three games. Four of UNT's five starters average at least 1.2 steals per game and five of their top six minutes per game players average a steal per game.
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 (9-5, 0-1) and Golden Hurricane (13-1, 1-0) are scheduled to tip-off at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on KHYI 95.3 FM and on ESPN+.
Sunday will be the 56th all-time meeting between UNT and Tulsa and the fourth since the Mean Green joined the American Conference in 2023. Tulsa leads the all-time series history, 38-17, however, North Texas is undefeated versus the Golden Hurricane since joining the league two seasons ago.
Sunday's matchup pins the Mean Green who own the league's top scoring defense, holding opponents to 63.1 points per game, against the Golden Hurricane who average 89 points per game and have one of the nation's top scoring margins. Tulsa enters Sunday having won 13 of its 14 games by an average margin of 20 points.
After Sunday's game the Mean Green will remain at home and host South Florida at the Super Pit Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT. The Bulls (8-5) have yet to play a conference game but host UAB Sunday.
CHALLENGING START TO LEAGUE PLAY
UNT's first four league games are against the top four ranked American teams per KenPom and per the NCAA NET ranking system: at Memphis (73/104), vs. Tulsa (66/38), vs. South Florida (84/68) and at Wichita State (88/78). Entering Sunday, Tulsa is the highest ranked American team per KenPom and the NCAA NET at 66/38. All four of UNT's first four league games are Quad 2 games.
DEFENDING THE ARC
UNT enters Sunday with the American's best and the nation's 18th best 3-point defense. UNT opponents are shooting just 28.2 percent from deep against the Mean Green.
GRAND THEFT GREEN
UNT averages 9.7 steals per game, that ranks 27th in the nation and second in the American behind USF (10.6/game). While UNT averages fewer steals per game than USF, the Mean Green lead the league in steal percentage (UNT averages fewer possessions per game than USF). UNT's defense averages a steal on 13 percent of all possessions. That leads the American and ranks 27th in the nation. UNT had 14 steals on Wednesday at Memphis. It was its most steals against a DI opponent this season and most since they had 15 against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Dec 21, 2019. It was its most steals in a road game since they had 16 on Dec. 18, 2018 at New Mexico. UNT enters Sunday averaging 14.3 steals per game over its last three games. Four of UNT's five starters average at least 1.2 steals per game and five of their top six minutes per game players average a steal per game.
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.
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