North Texas knew what they had to in order to beat LSU and that was to win the battle of the boards, make the long ball count and score over 60 points. They didn’t they lost. The 6,838 fans at The Super Pit watched North Texas’ four game winning streak come to an end 67-58. LSU now has a six game winning streak, moves to 9-3 while North Texas slips to 6-6.

The excitement inside and outside the stadium anyone could tell there was a big game on the Denton Campus. It was the Sunbelt vs. SEC, it was North Texas facing off against LSU.  

The first half the fans raised the roof when North Texas was up 19-12 with 11:29 left in the half. The lead changed hands nine times and there were seven ties. The game went back and forth during the first half with both teams dueling to a 35-35 draw at halftime. 

The opening of the second half spelled doom for North Texas. LSU opened the second half going up by ten points because of 12-3 run and it was the death knell for North Texas. North Texas closed to with four points, 54-50 with less then eight minutes left, after Brandon Walton hit his free throws. That is as close as they would get as LSU pulled back to a nine point lead and was able to keep North Texas at bay for the remainder of the game.

Tony Mitchell, trying to do too much, got into early foul trouble resulting in Head Coach Johnny Jones having to protect him by switching him in and out on defense and offense when he could.  

LSU dominated the offensive board getting 16 rebounds while North Texas garnered only five. Overall, LSU swiped 42 total rebounds to North Texas getting 29 and for all purposes was the difference in the game. It led to LSU getting 17 second chance points to just six for North Texas.

From three point range, North Texas hit only of two of 15 and were outscored in the paint 30-16. LSU’s bench beat up the North Texas bench by putting up 34 points to 27.

Chris Jones ended the game with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, Mitchell had 11 points and five rebounds. Coming in from the bench Brandon Walton had nine.

Coach Jones “thought we got off to a great start” during the first half when North Texas took a lead and was able to stay with the Tigers. Jones said LSU stayed in the half by rebounds. They also adjusted to what North Texas was doing and was effective against his team in the second half.

It's five days off before North Texas hosts New Orleans on Tues, Dec 27, 7 PM at The Super Pit.