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North Texas fell to the Western Kentucky Hill Toppers tonight in Denton bringing the Mean Green to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in conference. Again, Free Throw shooting was a problem with the team shooting just 57.7% (15-26), which is right around the season average. It should also be noted that the Mean Green came in to tonight’s game ranked #350 out of 351 Div. 1 schools. Tonight’s performance is likely to help move the middle very much.
The Mean Green have 13 games to win 9 games in order to finish the regular season at 16-15. It is quickly becoming evident that the Mean Green will be able to post a better than .500 record this year. North Texas must not drop games against the teams currently below it in the current standings if it wants finish above .500. The most likely wins will need to come against: @Rice (1/30), Southern Miss (2/4), @Charlotte (2/13), Florida Atlantic (2/20), @Southern Miss (2/27), and Charlotte (3/5). A split with @Old Dominion on 2/11 and in Denton on 3/3 would be nice as well. Unfortunately for North Texas is they are 1-5 on the season when playing away from home. Additionally, the Mean Green have yet to defeat a team with a winning record.
Tonight’s Player of the Game goes to Jeremy Combs, who racked up his 7th of the season and 4th in a row double-double. On 38 minutes of play he was 8 of 14 (57.1%) from the floor and 5 of 6 (83.3%) from the Free Throw line. He pulled in 12 Rebounds (5 Offensive; 7 Defensive) with 1 Block and 2 Steals. Also getting into double digits for the Mean Green was Reese, J-Mychal (23) and Johnson, Deckie (17).
Rickey Brice Jr. had a game, season, and career high 4 Blocks in tonight’s contest while adding in 6 points to the box score.
Up next for the Mean Green are the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, TN on Thursday, January 21st at 6:30 PM.
Game Stats have been posted.
There is a log jam at the 5th spot for Conference USA Men’s Basketball with an eye opening eight teams. Perhaps the next week of competition will allow the teams to separate themselves out.
Current conference standings (as of 1/16/2016)
TEAM CONF GB OVR
UAB 5-0 - 15-3
Marshall 5-0 - 9-9
Middle Tennessee 4-1 1 12-5
Florida Intl 3-2 2 9-9
Louisiana Tech 2-3 3 13-5
Western Kentucky 2-3 3 10-8
UTEP 2-3 3 10-8
Old Dominion 2-3 3 9-9
North Texas 2-3 3 7-11
Southern Miss 2-3 3 5-11
Florida Atlantic 2-3 3 4-14
UTSA 2-3 3 4-14
Rice 1-4 4 6-12
Charlotte 1-4 4 4-13