North Texas defeats Tulsa 72-67
North Texas Edges Tulsa in Dramatic Comeback Victory at Home
The crowd at The Super Pit was on the edge of their seats as North Texas (HOME) stunned visiting Tulsa by a margin of 5 points, handing them their first conference loss of the season.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a clear advantage in the opening half. At halftime, away team Tulsa led by just one point, 28-27. But North Texas refused to give up, using the momentum from the previous possession to fuel their comeback.
In the second half, Je'Shawn Stevenson (21 points, 4-8 3PT) was the catalyst for the home team's surge, scoring 10 consecutive points in a span of just over three minutes. His clutch shooting and determination helped North Texas regain the lead, and they never looked back.
David Green led Tulsa with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Miles Barnstable (12 points, 5 rebounds) provided a spark off the bench for the away team, but ultimately came up just short.
The key to North Texas' victory was their ability to contain Tulsa's offense and limit their scoring opportunities. The home team held the visiting squad to just 29% shooting from beyond the arc, making it difficult for them to find open looks.
Tulsa struggled with turnovers, committing 13 mistakes in the second half alone. This led to a significant increase in points off turnovers for North Texas, as they capitalized on their opponents' carelessness.
The game's advanced statistics told a similar story. North Texas' effective field goal percentage (eFG%) was a full point higher than Tulsa's, while their true shooting percentage (58.1% vs 57.8%) showcased the home team's superior efficiency. The difference in turnover rate (12.7 for North Texas to 21.0 for Tulsa) also played a significant role in the outcome.
North Texas' win marks a crucial conference victory and cements their position as a top contender in the league. For Tulsa, it was a tough loss that highlights the importance of consistency and minimizing turnovers.
As the teams head into their next matchup, both will be looking to bounce back from this setback. But for now, North Texas basks in the glory of their hard-fought win at home.