By: Alex Bustillo
@txsportsblog
📸: Mean Green Sports
The Mean Green were poised to make it to the Conference USA championship game in 2021, after being stripped of the opportunity last season because of a global pandemic despite being the regular season champions. COVID-19 has impacted their 2021 campaign as well. UNT has had 8 games cancelled/postponed this season. Most of those due to new COVID-19 protocols. Javion Hamlet would make sure his team would not be denied that opportunity this season.
UNT would first have to get by La Tech in their semifinal matchup on March 12th in the Ford Center to reach their first conference championship since winning the Sun Belt in 2010. The Bulldogs defeated FAU on Thursday night, 75-69. North Texas beat ODU 61-55 in their quarterfinal matchup behind a gritty performance by Javion Hamlet and Zachary Simmons who overcame a 5 point deficit in the second half.
It was an offensive struggle out of the gate for both teams. UNT led most of the way and held a 24-22 lead at the half. The Mean Green went on a 10-0 run early in the 2nd half after the Bulldogs had taken a 26-24 lead. Jacolby Pemberton kept the Bulldogs in it scoring a team high 12 points for La Tech, all in the second half. He was 7-7 from the line and tied for the team lead in rebounds with 6.
Mardrez McBride was huge once again for UNT adding 11 points on 3-7 of shooting and 3-6 from deep. McBride hit a triple that extended the UNT lead to 46-41 with 4:08 left in the game. Javion Hamlet was one of four scorers in double figures for UNT. The senior guard had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists leading the Mean Green to a 54-48 victory and a matchup with Western Kentucky for the CUSA title.
Both teams shot under 40% from the field but North Texas's defense forced 15 turnovers that led to 21 points and shot 81% from the line. UNT held its third straight opponent under 60 points. It promises to be a great matchup between two schools who did not face each other this season during conference play. The Hilltoppers needed free throws late to seal a 64-60 win over UAB in the earlier semifinal on Friday.
Keep it here and follow on Twitter for continuing coverage and real-time updates during the game.
📸: Mean Green Basketball
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