North Texas welcomed SWAC member Jackson State to the Super Pit and Tony Mitchell to the line-up as he passed his required courses and was cleared to play by the NCAA. Trey Norris was back on the court after his injury.

North Texas started the game out fast with Chris Jones getting his first three of the game. North Texas took an early 5-2 lead before JSU hit a basket to make the score to 5-4. However, Jones answered with two points on inside the lane giving North Texas a 7-4 lead. JSU cut the lead to 7-6.  Jones hit for his second three within the first few minutes of the game giving North Texas a 10-6 lead. At 15:10 a timeout was called with North Texas in the lead 10-6.

After the timeout, JSU got an offensive tip to close the gap to 10-8. Jones responded by hitting another three point shot pushing the North Texas lead to 13-8.  JSU hit for two then Alzee Williams answered the challenge with a two, followed it up with another two and a timeout was called with North Texas up 17-8.

After the timeout, the long awaited appearance of Tony Mitchell was greeted with a lot cheers from the North Texas fans. His career started with a rebound and a missed a three. JSU closed to within five before J. Williams hit for three making a 20-12 game and at the 10:57 mark a timeout called.   

After a couple of North Texas and JSU turnovers, JSU hit a basket. Mitchell responded with a thundering slam dunk to the roar of about 3000 fans in attendance.  With 7:26 left in the half and the score 22-14 a timeout was called.

JSU added two points before Roger Franklin hit for two. Mitchell came back into the game after JSU hit the second of two free throws and the score 24-17. Walton was fouled after hitting for two points and after making the free throw gave North Texas a 27-17 lead.  After a series of missed shots by both teams a Jones lob to Mitchell resulted in two points and being fouled for the first time. His charity shot was good making it a 30-17 game. Mitchell returned the lob favor to Jones by feeding him the ball which resulted in Jones hitting for the three and a 33-17 game.  JSU came back with a three of their own. With 3:03 left in the first half, North Texas up 33-20, J. Williams at the line a timeout was called.

After J. Williams missed the first free throw, he got the second to fall extending North Texas’ lead to fourteen. Mitchell on another pass from Jones resulted in another slam dunk to put North Texas up by sixteen 36-20. JSU got two on a goal tending call and added two more to make the halftime score 36-24

A. Williams started the second half off with a three pointer. J. Williams got a steal a slam dunk and drew the foul. After making the free throw, North Texas was up 42-24. JSU got the two point shot to fall. Then Jones hit another three point shot. A. Williams was fouled on his shot, missing the first he got the second to fall. Mitchell then got his first block of his college career and at the 15:54 left in the game a timeout was called with the score 46-26.

JSU came out to hit for two before Alonzo Edwards slammed the ball home for a 48-28 game. JSU hit for a couple baskets before Franklin hit a turnaround jumper making it a 50-34 game.  JSU hit for two, was fouled but missed the free throw. North Texas got the rebound and Franklin finished at the other end for a 52-36 game. A timeout was called at the 11:53 mark left in the game.

Walton was fouled coming out of the timeout but he missed both free throws.  After several exchanges by both teams, Mitchell was fouled and he missed both free throws.  JSU added two buckets before North Texas could make a score when Mitchell was fouled. In the bonus, Mitchell hit the first but missed the second.  J. Williams was fouled on the next North Texas possession; he missed the first but got the second to fall. The two teams started to trade baskets starting with Mitchell getting a steal and a dunk. JSU answered with a two, followed by Mitchell getting two. JSU hit for two followed by Mitchell getting a turnaround basket from under the rim making it a 60-47 game and a timeout was called with 5:48 left in the game and Franklin at the line.

Franklin hit the first free throw but missed the second for a 61-47 game.  JSU tightened the score up by hitting two free throws, then at the foul line again hit one of two shots followed by a basket and with 3:51 left in the game a timeout was called with J. Williams at the line and the score 61-52.

J. Williams sank both free throws for a 63-52 game. JSU hit for two, followed by Franklin hitting for two.  After missed shots by both teams, Franklin was fouled and missed both free throws.  Another Jones to Mitchell combination resulted in a put down and a 67-52 score. Franklin was again fouled but he made both free throws. JSU went to the line for the final score of the evening by hitting one free throw for the final score North Texas 69 JSU 55.

North Texas ups its record to 5-5 while JSU falls to 2-10. Next up will be Grambling at the Super Pit on Tuesday.