UNT Men’s Hoops Lose In NIT Season Tip-Off

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Manhattan, Kan. – A career-high 26 points from Jordan Williams wasn’t enough for North Texas to overcome a 3-point shooting barrage from Alabama-Huntsville in a 78-75 loss in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Chris Jones had a look at the 24-foot game-tying 3-pointer, but it found iron at the buzzer. The Mean Green moves to 0-2 for the first time since 2000-01, and will take on Lamar in the Midwest Consolation game Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The Chargers (2-0), the first Division II program to ever earn an invite to the NIT Season Tip-Off, had every answer to North Texas’ punches on the night – especially from deep. UAH hit 12-of-27 from beyond the arc, which are the most 3-pointers against an NT squad since Oklahoma State landed 13 in 2008-09.

Aside from Williams and Roger Franklin, North Texas couldn’t buy a bucket for much of the night. Williams and Franklin combined to hit 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from the floor, but the rest of the squad was just 8-of-36 (22.2 percent) on the night.

Franklin ended the night with 16 points, while Tony Mitchell posted his 11th career double-double with

10 points and a game-high 11 boards. Jones also reached double-figures with 13 points and seven assists.

North Texas had opportunities to cut into the UAH lead. The Mean Green pushed the tempo in the second half and got to the free throw line 18 times, but missed five straight attempts that would have cut into the Chargers’ then eight-point lead.