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North Texas Gives Arkansas All They Want

North Texas played neck and neck with Arkansas in the first half, trailing 38-36 at the break. The Mean Green stayed close until the 8:00 mark before the Hogs pulled away for a 89-73 win.

Jordan Williams had a big first half for UNT.
Jordan Williams had a big first half for UNT.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

UNT shot 48% from the field in the first half including 63% from deep. The Mean Green had shot just 25% from three point range so far this season. Jordan Williams led the team with 12 points in the first half.

Arkansas jumped out to a 50-43 lead before Bobby Portis went to the bench with his 3rd foul. Michael Qualls was leading Arkansas with 18 points and 7 rebounds with 11:10 to go in the game. Portis had just 2 points and 7 rebounds at that point.

The Mean Green had just retaken the lead 55-54, before the Hogs hit a three to go back up 57-55.

UNT was 8-15 from three with 10:00 minutes left in the game, but they were just 10-17 from the free throw line.

The 6-10 Portis got back on the board with two more points that put Arkansas up 62-58 with 8:15 to play.

It was all Arkansas after that. Williams went cold for. North Texas and the Mean Green could not seem yo hit their free throws. UNT finished 1-7 down the stretch at the line and was 11-24 in the game.

T.J. Taylor led UNT with 16 points and Williams added 15. Qualls led Arkansas with22. Anthony Bell and Rashad Madden added 15 each.

UNT gets a shot at Oklahoma State on Wednesday while Arkansas' next game is a major test against Iona on Sunday. Arkansas is 5-0 for the first time in seven years.

If UNT knew going in they would commit only 9 turnovers, hit 10-21 from three, and hold Bobby Portis to just six points, they would have taken that every day. The Mean Green simply ran out of gas.

Arkansas finished 11-27 from three and 20-25 at the free throw line.