gophers/ncaa

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, November 13, 7 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) -- Manhattan, Kansas. Television: None. Home Record: UNT 0-0, Lamar 0-0. Away Record: UNT 0-1, Lamar 0-1. Neutral Record: UNT 0-1, Lamar 0-0. Conference Record: UNT 0-0, Lamar 0-0. Series Record: Lamar leads, 17-11.

GAME NOTES: The North Texas Mean Green tries to avoid a third straight loss to open the season as the squad challenges the Lamar Cardinals in the regional championship round of the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

Losing to nationally-ranked Creighton on the road in the season opener was understandable, but then the Mean Green followed that setback with a stunning 78-75 loss to Alabama-Huntsville yesterday in Manhattan as well.

Meanwhile, Lamar was just beginning its 2012-13 odyssey on Monday as it bowed to Kansas State, 79-55.

The Cardinals own a 17-11 advantage against a North Texas team which used to be in the Southland Conference with Lamar, although the squads have not faced each other since the Mean Green put up a 70-66 victory during the 2004-05 campaign.

The Mean Green was paced by Jordan Williams who posted a game-high 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor on Monday, but it wasn't quite enough as the group took the loss versus the Chargers of UAH. Roger Franklin added 16 points and nine rebounds, Chris Jones 13 points and seven assists, while Tony Mitchell registered a double-double before fouling out with his 10 points and 11 boards in the setback. The first 20 minutes of action were very competitive as the teams traded leads 13 times and went through seven ties, but partly due to just 2-of-9 shooting behind the three-point line, UNT trailed at the break by four points. In the second half the Mean Green fell behind by double digits but managed to close the gap down the stretch before suffering the loss. North Texas scored 25 points at the free-throw line and forced 16 turnovers, but that wasn't enough to overcome 35.9 percent shooting from the floor overall.

The Cardinals were led by Donley Minor with 17 points as he converted 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc, followed by Rhon Mitchell and Stan Brown with 15 and 11 points, respectively, but those efforts went for naught as the program suffered a lopsided loss to host Kansas State on Monday. The team opened the meeting by shooting a woeful 6-of-21 (.286) from the floor overall in the first half and 1-of-5 behind the three-point line. In the second half the Cardinals picked up the pace with 57.7 percent accuracy from the floor, a perfect 4-of-4 on the perimeter, but what the group could not get a handle on was turnovers as they suffered 26 miscues in the outing.

If Lamar is able to set the tempo for this meeting, the Cardinals stand a good chance of coming up with the victory even though they might be a tired bunch.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Lamar 71, North Texas 68