University of North Texas

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The UNT men’s basketball team lost to (RV) Utah State 61-57 in the NIT season tip-off title game at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Fla., on Friday night.

The Mean Green (6-2) held the Aggies (7-0) to 31 points below their season scoring average and forced them into 16 turnovers, but were unable and unable to get late stops against USU’s matchup zone on the night shoot well enough.

“The challenge for their defense is not to get stagnant,” head coach said Ross Hodge. “And I feel like we played into that at times. We didn’t take advantage in transition, especially in the first half. We let them go on a 6-0 run to end the first half and close the gap. “With a team that good you have to close the halves and ultimately Mason Falslev imposed his will and we had no answer him. We have to get better as a team and as a team.”

North Texas was led in the standings by Atin Wright who finished with 17 points and made a season-high five 3-pointers. Grant Newell added a season-high 12 points on seven shots.

The star of the night, however, was Utah State’s Mason Falslev, who finished the game with 28 points on 16 shots, going 5 of 8 from 3.

UNT will have a week off before returning to play, but remains on the road as it travels to High Point on December 6th. They return to the Super Pit to host Mississippi Valley State on December 18th.

For more information on UNT basketball tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or [email protected]. Fans can purchase tickets at www.meangreentickets.com or visit the UNT Athletics ticket office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.