San Antonio, TX—–North Texas entered Saturday with one of the nation’s most disruptive defenses, ranking among the top 15 in scoring defense and forcing turnovers on 21.9 percent of opponent possessions — the 10th-highest rate in the country. That identity was on full display in an 81–58 win over UTSA at the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
The Mean Green forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 34 points, using a decisive 25–0 scoring run that flipped the game and left the Roadrunners scoreless for more than eight minutes spanning the end of the first half and the opening of the second.
UTSA (4–19, 0–11) controlled the early stretch and led for nearly the first 17 minutes, building a lead as large as five. Graduate guard Jamir Simpson capped that stretch by finding junior guard Brent Moss in the right corner for a three-pointer, giving the Roadrunners a 26–23 advantage with 5:26 remaining in the first half.
That basket proved to be UTSA’s last for the next 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
“We had some casual plays, and casual against them is going to hurt you,” UTSA head coach Austin Claunch said. “They’re the opposite of casual.”
North Texas (13–11, 4–7 American Athletic Conference) seized control behind sophomore guard Je’Shawn Stevenson, who recorded a career-high six steals. Stevenson sparked the turnaround by picking off a pass and finding junior guard Cole Franklin for a fast-break layup. Moments later, Stevenson knocked down a three following a UTSA five-second violation, giving UNT its first lead of the game at 28–26 with 2:53 left in the half.
Franklin followed with another layup as the Mean Green closed the opening period on an 11–0 run, taking a 34–26 advantage into halftime.
UNT carried that momentum into the second half. Stevenson opened the frame with a pull-up three and then converted a fast-break layup after stripping sophomore forward Reece Robinson, prompting a quick UTSA timeout. Robinson finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Out of the break, Franklin continued the surge. The junior guard from DeSoto, Texas, scored seven of the next nine points, including a pair of free throws after a steal on the break, stretching the lead to 48–26 with 17:18 remaining and completing the 25–0 run.
Franklin turned in a career performance, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and no turnovers.
UTSA finally broke the drought when Mo Njie split a pair of free throws with 17:03 left in the game.
The Roadrunners showed brief flashes of resistance but never mounted a run to threaten UNT’s control. Simpson scored six straight points during a stretch that cut the deficit to 67–49 with 7:12 remaining, but the Mean Green quickly answered.
Late baskets from Robinson pushed the lead to a game-high 26 points with under a minute to play, as UNT closed out the 81–58 victory.
Stevenson capped his career night with 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists to go along with his six steals. Senior forward Dylan Arnett added 14 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. Simpson led UTSA with 17 points.
The 23-point margin marked North Texas’ largest conference win of the season, surpassing its 19-point victory over UTSA on Jan. 21.
“The tougher team won,” Claunch said. “Terrible last two minutes of the first half, horrendous effort in the second half. Embarrassing — the most embarrassed I’ve ever been. That’s unacceptable, and it starts with me.”
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for North Texas, which included a double-overtime loss at Rice earlier in the week. The Mean Green return home Thursday to host Memphis at 8 p.m. CST.
