The North Texas men’s basketball team tied the record for the largest comeback in school history with a 69-62 win against Denver on Thursday night at the Super Pit.
The Mean Green won its second straight game and second straight thriller after last Saturday’s triple-overtime win. NT improves to 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the Sun Belt. Denver lost its 39th straight road game, the longest in the nation. The Pioneers fall to 7-10 and 2-4 in the conference. North Texas extends the series record to 10-8 and 7-2 at the Super Pit.
Down 17 points at the half (39-22), North Texas erupted in the second period with a 21-7 run. Adam McCoy capped the run with a three-pointer to cut the Mean Green deficit to three points, 46-43, with 11:58 left in the second half.
The Pioneers brought the lead back up to nine points before Dominique Johnson scored his first points of the game. With North Texas behind, 52-46, Johnson scored eight points in just over a minute to give the Mean Green its first lead of the game, 54-52, with 4:49 on the clock. Johnson finished the game with 11 points, all scored in the second half.
The Mean Green outscored Denver, 15-10, the rest of the way to seal the win. North Texas outscored Denver, 47-23, in the second half. After going 0-for-7 from three-point range in the first half, the Mean Green hit five in the second period. NT also forced 11 Denver turnovers in the second half, after the Pioneers recorded just three in the first half.
The Pioneers had the big run in the first half. Denver jumped out to a 37-16 lead, using a 23-7 run through most of the first half. Aided by back-door layups and five three-pointers, DU entered half ahead by 17 points.
Collin Dennis came off the bench to lead the Mean Green with 14 points. McCoy posted double-figures for the fourth time this season with 11 points. Harold Stewart set a season-high with eight points.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17 against Florida Atlantic at 7 pm in the Super Pit.
