Recap: North Texas vs. Arkansas State
Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - Jacob Holmen knocked down five three- pointers en route to a career-high 21 points as the North Texas Mean Green defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves 76-72 in a semifinal game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Summit Arena.
Fifth-seeded North Texas (18-13) advances to its third straight SBC Championship game and its fourth in the last six seasons. Alzee Williams scored 12 points, Brandan Walton and Tony Mitchell netted 11 apiece, and Roger Franklin added 10 for the Mean Green. Tony Mitchell also added four blocks.
Trey Finn tallied 21 points for ninth-seeded Arkansas State (14-20), while Marcus Hooten scored 18 points. Malcoln Kirkland recorded a double-double for the Red Wolves with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
North Texas started off the contest red-hot, draining 55.6 percent of its field goals, including 6-of-10 from three-point range, and it took a 38-34 lead into halftime.
Arkansas State came back in the second half to lead by three, 65-62, on a Finn three-pointer with 5:25 to play. The Mean Green answered however with a 7-2 run to retake the lead, 69-67, on a Walton layup with 48 seconds remaining. That bucket proved to be the game-winner for North Texas.
The Red Wolves lost despite winning the rebounding battle, 32-23.
North Texas will face Western Kentucky in Tuesday night's championship game.
Game Notes
