Mean Green Fall On Buzzer Beater To ASU
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JONESBORO, Ark. – In a frantic back and forth game, Marcus Hooten knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Arkansas State (8-9, 2-1) knocked off North Texas 75-72 at the Convocation Center.
North Texas (9-8, 2-2) had a chance to win the game on the last possession with the game tied at 72-72 with less than 30 seconds to play. Chris Jones went to the basket but his shot was partially blocked, Malcoln Kirkland came down with board and fed Hooten who raced down the floor with 2.2 seconds left and got his shot just before the buzzer sounded for the win.
“It didn’t come down to the last shot and unfortunately we put ourselves in that position and they took advantage of that in the end,” said North Texas coach Johnny Jones.
The Mean Green opened up a nine-point lead at 42-33 early in the second half but that’s when the two teams traded numerous runs. Arkansas State used a 15-5 run to cut the North Texas lead to one-point at 48-47. The Red Wolves took a 56-50 lead at with 8:15 left in the game before the Mean Green answered back.
North Texas retook the lead at 58-56 with an 8-0 run fueled by 3-pointers from Brandan Walton and Jordan Williams. With less than five minutes to play, Arkansas State went back in front by three at 68-65 on a basket by Kirkland.
North Texas tied the game up at 70-70 on a 3-pointer from Jones with under two minutes to play and took the lead at 72-70 on another off balance basket by Jones with 43 seconds left in the game. Arkansas State tied the game up on two free throws by Hooten with 27 seconds left to set up the final game heroics.
Arkansas State raced out an early 11-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game and the Red Wolves opened up a 20-9 lead midway through the half. North Texas though battled back with an 18-5 and took their first lead of the game at 27-25 on a 3-pointer from Walton with 4:17 left in the half.
The Mean Green continued to pour it on using the long ball late in the half. Walton connected on another 3-pointer and freshman Williams knocked a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half and North Texas took a seven-point lead into the break at 37-30. North Texas drilled five 3-pointers in the first half as they outscored Arkansas State 29-10 in the final 11 minutes of the first half.
Jones ended the game with a team-high 17 points while Williams had 15 points off the bench. Tony Mitchell scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds to go along with five blocked shots, which are the most in a game by a North Texas player since 2006.
North Texas returns home to face Western Kentucky on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
