North Texas Wins At FIU

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MIAMI – With 6-11 shot-blocker extrordanaire Adrian Diaz roaming the paint for FIU, North Texas knew it needed a big game from forward Colin Voss and the Mean Green perimeter. NT got that and more in a 70-56 win at FIU Arena that will send the Mean Green back to Denton on a season-high four-game win streak.

Voss pulled down a career and team-season high 13 rebounds and dished out a career-high six assists – with no turnovers – to negate the imposing Diaz, who sent back six North Texas shots but found himself in foul trouble for much of the evening. What’s more, Voss’ shooting range pulled the FIU defense out of the paint for the rest of the Mean Green to go to work.

T.J. Taylor’s left hand did the most damage against FIU, which was held without a field goal for more than six minutes midway through the second half. The senior racked up a season-high 18 points, and ran the Mean Green offense that turned the ball over a season-low seven times.

“This was just a total team effort, and I couldn’t be happier with the way we are playing down the stretch right now,” said North Texas head coach Tony Benford. “Diaz is an outstanding player, but I think our guys did a great job of frustrating him and finding ways to score the basketball.”

Jordan Williams returned to form with 16 points and Jeremy Combs added 10 points.

The 14-point victory over FIU is NT’s largest in conference play this year, and its biggest overall since taking down Mississippi Valley State, 67-52, in November.