Despite shooting 39 percent from the field, North Texas men’s basketball used 13 forced turnovers to secure a 74-70 win over Florida Atlantic University in the second round of the American Men’s Basketball Championship.
Just over a week after recording the most regular-season wins by a head coach in 50 years, Daniyal Robinson nabbed his first American Conference tournament win, a feat he attributes to the support around him.
“I just have a great sense of gratitude for the players, the administration and our coaching staff […],” Robinson said. “The buy-in of our players, the hard work and the winning habits that they’ve created [have helped me] to be able to come to North Texas and have a good year.”
North Texas started the game sluggish on the offensive end, missing inside shots and committing multiple turnovers while FAU (18-15, 9-9) grabbed an early 9-3 lead.
The Mean Green crept back up the scoreboard, eventually getting into a back-and-forth scoring battle with the Owls that lasted most of the first half. North Texas pulled away on the scoreboard after entering the double bonus with over six minutes to go, converting multiple free throws for the rest of the half.
Junior guard David Terrell Jr. also brought his season point and assist totals to 400 and 150, respectively, during the stretch, becoming just the second player in North Texas history to do so.
“I think it’s just a tribute to my teammates and the staff here,” Terrell said. “I had a lot of growth coming from my last school […]. They stay on me, knowing how to make reads coming off things, knowing when to score, knowing when to pass, I feel like it’s a tribute to them.”
Despite shooting 33 percent from the field, the Mean Green converted 15 of 22 free throw attempts to go on a 13-3 run toward the end of the half and build a lead, forcing six turnovers throughout the first.
FAU scored four points in the final 1:30 of the half to enter halftime down 34-30.
The Mean Green increased their lead in the first five minutes of the second, going on a 12-4 run while forcing five turnovers in the process.
“All year long, our defense has created our offense, and we feed off that,” sophomore guard Je’Shawn Stevenson said. “Once we saw a few go in, I think it was almost after that.”
Despite a healthy lead, North Texas put FAU into the double bonus with eight minutes left as the Owls began to mount a comeback. By the 6:16 mark, FAU had trimmed what was once a double-digit deficit to just 58-55.
Both teams proceeded to go on a three-minute scoring drought, weakening the Owls’ momentum as North Texas responded with a layup. Junior forward Buddy Hammer Jr. followed up the score by blocking an FAU shot, enlivening the Mean Green in the final minutes of the game. Hammer finished with a season-high 12 points while adding eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
North Texas was able to trade baskets with FAU from then on, maintaining its lead and securing the victory 74-70.
The win was the Mean Green’s (19-13, 9-9 American Conference) fifth straight game decided by four points or less, a stretch Robinson believes has drawn out a more physical edge from his team.
“To be able to turn around and push us to the limit tonight, give [FAU] a ton of credit, but also I love the way our guys responded after [FAU] came out, […]” Robinson said. “Guys have been able to play with a level of physicality, and then we had multiple guys stepping up tonight.”
With the win, North Texas heads to its third straight quarterfinal in the conference tournament. They will take on the University of Tulsa (25-6, 13-5) with just a 15-hour turnaround between games.
“We’re just happy to move on, and we’re going to be ready,” Stevenson said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, it’s always going to be about us. We’re going to get a good night’s rest and be ready for Tulsa tomorrow.”