Mean Green Battle To Three-Point Road Win

[Coach Andy Mac]

ARLINGTON — The North Texas men's basketball team made a second half come back to beat UT Arlington on the road Tuesday night, 60-57, at the College Park Center.

The Mean Green were led by senior Tylor Perry who scored a game-high 22 points, 17 of which came in the second half.

"We were not at our best coming into the game," said head coach Grant McCasland. "We had guys banged up, not 100 percent. But I told the guys that this is what we have to learn. We have to learn how to win when we're not at our best. Championship teams win when there is adversity on the road. Obviously Tylor Perry has been in those moments and delivered. And (tonight) he delivered on offense about as well as he possibly could have."

UNT (7-2), who was without junior guard Rubin Jones Tuesday night due to his offseason knee surgery,  trailed the Mavericks (4-6) by as many as seven points in the first half as the Mean Green's offense trudged along. Offensive rebounds and second chance points kept North Texas in the game. Sophomore Aaron Scott grabbed 10 rebounds in the win but six offensive rebounds. 

 

In the second half, UNT opened the half on a 6-0 run that gave them a lead they'd never give back, though UTA pounded on the comeback door constantly.

With one minute and 16 seconds remaining and the shot clock draining, Perry nailed his fourth 3-pointer to give his Mean Green team a six-point lead. He then sank free throws — he was 10-of-10 at the line overall Tuesday — before Kai Huntsberry iced the victory with a driving layup with 24 seconds remaining in the game.

UNT stays on the road as they travel to Phoenix Saturday to face Grand Canyon at the Phoenix Suns' Footprint Center at 4:30 p.m. CT.