UNT Defeats Arkansas State 76-64

{fshare id=2156}

DENTON, Texas – Freshman Tony Mitchell and junior Brandan Walton paced the Mean Green offense as North Texas defeated Arkansas State 76-64 for head coach Johnny Jones’ 200th-career victory on Saturday afternoon at the Super Pit.

Mitchell, who was one rebound short of a double-double by halftime, led the Mean Green (13-9, 6-3) both offensively and defensively, collecting two steals and six blocks to go along with his game-high 21 points and 15 rebounds. Those six blocks were tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history.

North Texas jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the first half and never trailed the Red Wolves (9-14, 3-6) as it took a 36-30 lead into the break. Mitchell collected a career-high tying five blocks in the first stanza alone.

The Mean Green began the second half much like the first, taking a 16-7 run at the beginning of the half to pull away from Arkansas State. The Red Wolves wouldn’t be able to get closer than nine points of North Texas for the remainder of the game.

Walton notched a career-high 19 points in 33 minutes of play while junior Roger Franklin netted double-figure points for the fifth-straight game with 10. Alzee Williams finished with eight points on 5-of-9 shooting and a career-high five assists.

North Texas shot 50-percent from the field for the fifth time this season and held Arkansas state to just 37-percent field goal shooting.

Mean Green men’s basketball will return to action on Thursday, February 2 against the SBC leading Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. at the Super Pit.