By: Alex Bustillo
@txsportsblog
It was another late start in the Conference USA tournament for the Mean Green for their quarterfinal matchup against defending CUSA champs, the Old Dominion Monarchs. ODU was the last champ that was crowned. The winner would earn a date with Louisiana Tech in the semifinal Friday afternoon.
UNT was coming off a dominating performance over Middle Tennessee, 76-56. North Texas was last season’s regular season champions before COVID shut down the college basketball season this time last March. Both teams were eager to return to the NCAA tournament. It would be UNT’s first trip since 2010.
Old Dominion got out to an early lead behind the hot hand of guard Malik Curry who tallied 13 points to go with a pair of steals in the first half. The Monarchs defense forced costly UNT turnovers and led the entire first half and took a 31-26 lead into the half.
The second half would be a different story. The North Texas defense used a 3-2 zone to slow down the Monarchs and the combination of guards James Reese and JJ Murray held Malik Curry to just 4 second half points. UNT did not shoot the ball well from the field but out-rebounded ODU and shot 45% from deep on 9-20 shooting. A Mardrez McBride triple at the 12:30 mark of the second half would give UNT its first lead, 40-39, and they would never look back.
The Mean Green were able to get senior big man Zachary Simmons going in the 2nd half and held ODU to 2-12 shooting from three and forced 11 turnovers. Simmons finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Hamlet struggled from the field but finished with 15, 9 and 7, hitting 4 huge free throws down the stretch to seal the win, 61-55.
North Texas improves to 15-9. UNT has hit clutch threes in both contests thus far and they’ll have to continue to do that and play defense against a very tough La Tech team with a quick turnaround on Friday afternoon.
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