DENTON, Texas -- Atin Wright had 21 points to help North Texas hold on for a 68-66 victory over Wichita State on Monday night, upping its win streak to six. Wright shot 7 for 13 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and made 3 of 4 from the free-throw line, putting forth an impressive performance for the Mean Green (22-6, 13-3 American Athletic Conference). Brenen Lorient added 15 points and Latrell Jossell contributed 13 points to the scoreboard.
On the other side, the Shockers (17-12, 7-9) were led by Xavier Bell, who tallied 19 points. Harlond Beverly chipped in with 16 points, and Bijan Cortes rounded out the scoring with nine.
North Texas entered halftime with a narrow lead, 31-28, fueled by Jossell's 10-point effort. The second half saw North Texas mount momentum, executing a 9-0 run to erase a four-point deficit, culminating with Wright scoring 14 of his total points after the break and giving them the lead at 52-47 with just over nine minutes left on the clock.
With this win, North Texas now trails 16th-ranked Memphis by only one game for the lead of the conference, as they prepare for their upcoming games against Charlotte and Temple, aiming to solidify their standing heading toward the AAC tournament.
Wichita State, currently tied with Temple for seventh place, will look to regroup as they approach their next match against Rice and then host Tulsa, hoping to improve their conference standing and overall performance.
Reflecting on the season, North Texas has made quite an impression after clinching their spot for the quarterfinals of the upcoming AAC tournament, courtesy of their consistent performance throughout the season. Both teams exhibited notable efforts, but it was the Mean Green's relentless determination and strategic plays under pressure, especially from their star player, Wright, who made the difference on their path to victory.
The fans at The Super Pit witnessed not only competitive basketball but also the preview of what the upcoming postseason holds for both teams as they strive for success and to bolster their playoff positioning.