UNT Basketball Exhibition Game Tonight Is Free

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DENTON, Texas – Mean Green hoops fans will get their first chance to see new head coach Tony Benford and Preseason All-American Tony Mitchell in action on Thursday as North Texas battles East Central University in exhibition action.

Thursday’s game is free, and will be the first opportunity for Mean Green season ticket holders to pick up their tickets (available at Gate C). Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.

If you haven’t purchased your 2012-13 season tickets yet, call the North Texas Ticket Office at 940-565-2527.

Benford, a collegiate coaching veteran of 21 years, took the reigns of the North Texas basketball program for 2012-13. He spent the last three years at Marquette, including the 2011-12 season as Buzz Williams’ Associate Head Coach. Aside from helping the Golden Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in each of the last two years, Benford has coached in 14 total postseason appearances and has recruited and coached five NBA first-round draft picks.

Benford hopes to add another first-rounder to his resume in North Texas phenom Tony Mitchell. Mitchell was named a Preseason All-American by several national publications, including CBS Sports, Athlon, Basketball Times and Blue Ribbon Report. He was also named the Sun Belt’s Preseason Player of the Year after bringing home Freshman of the Year and All-SBC Tourney honors in ’11-12.

The Mean Green will take on a revamped East Central squad that features 15 newcomers and just one returner after a 6-20 finish in 2011-12. The Tigers were 3-13 in the Great American Conference, which picked East Central to finish ninth in the league this year.