North Texas traveled to Mobile, Alabama to take on South Alabama in Sun Belt Conference play. With Kedrick Hogans and Jacob Holmen out with injuries and Tyler Hall nursing some problems, Head Coach Johnny Jones had to make some adjustments in the lineup and pull out all his coaching skills with only ten players able to take on the Jags. North Texas went into the game with a 1-8 record at the Mitchell Center so things did not seem to be in their favor.

What was expected to be a battle between North Texas’ Chris Jones and USA’s Augustine Rubit turned into the Tony Mitchell show.  Rubit was injured early in the game when he and Jordan Williams went for a ball. Rubit hit the floor hard on his tailbone, went into the locker room and did not play the rest of the game. He did return to the bench during the second half. North Texas Head Basketball Coach Johnny Jones said at the end of the game, Rubit told him he was going to be OK.

The game ended in a 65-65 tie and went into overtime. It was the first overtime game for North Texas this season and the second for USA. The result was North Texas winning their first overtime game 78-73 while USA’s overtime record went to 1-1.

Mitchell ended the game with 34 points and 18 rebounds but more importantly he played over 40 minutes of the game and only fouled three times.  HC Jones stated “I thought Tony played an excellent game tonight. One, he stayed out of foul trouble.”  Jones felt Mitchell played a physical game and made opponents play over him.

Jones said the game was a “knock down drag out” short of like a western shootout and was one of the type of games North Texas and USA always play.

Chris Jones had another game in double figures putting in 12 points. Alzee Williams was not to be outdone and poured in 15 points. While offensive figures impress everyone and show up in the stat sheets defensive things tend to get overlooked. In this game it was the play of J. Williams getting extremely important defensive stops that throttled USA’s offense late in the game that helped in the win.

USA got the tipoff and two points but Alzono Edwards tied the game. USA took the lead before Mitchell slammed the ball through to give North Texas a 4-3 lead. USA retook the lead and with 15:32 left in the first half the Jags were up 6-4.

After USA extended their lead A. Williams hit for two to keep North Texas close. After the teams traded baskets it was A. Williams hitting for two to make the score 12-11 USA with a little over 12 minutes left in the half.

Brandon Walton's bucket gave North Texas a 13-12 lead. USA took the lead back before Niko Stojiljkovic got three points the old fashioned way, with a basket and a free throw. J. Williams and USA’s  Rubit went after a ball causing Rubit to hit the floor on his tailbone forcing him to head to the locker room.  Both teams scored before the 7:23 timeout with North Texas up 18-17.

After the timeout, Mitchell was fouled and he hit both free throws. Then C. Jones got a steal but missed his shot however, Roger Franklin got the offensive rebound and the stick back to open up a five point lead. Things seemed to be going North Texas' way so USA called a timeout with about six minutes left and North Texas up 22-17.

After the timeout USA was fouled and got one free throw to fall. Mitchell responded to the score with a slam dunk. North Texas hit a couple of baskets but USA hit a couple of three’s to shorten the lead and at the 3:37 mark North Texas called a timeout up 26-24 with Franklin at the line.

Franklin hit both free throws to give North Texas a four point lead but USA rolled past North Texas and at halftime they had a 31-28 lead.

The second half opened with C. Jones trying to tie the game on a three point shot but it failed to go in. USA got the first points of the second period after hitting one of two free throws to take a four point lead. Mitchell got North Texas’ first points of the second half by hitting a basket. USA scored but Mitchell answered with a three and followed it up with an offensive rebound and another three. A. Williams got a steal and a layup and USA called a timeout with 16:55 left in the game and North Texas leading 38-35.

Before the next media timeout at 15:31, USA hit a free throw and C. Jones a basket to make the score 40-36.

USA got two points off the offensive glass and a foul which was committed by Mitchell. It was his third and final of the game. After the free throw North Texas had a one point lead. Mitchell hit for three then he got a steal and a slam dunk. North Texas H.C. Jones called a timeout with 14:38 left in the game with his team up 45-39.

The Jags then hit for a three and C. Jones answered with a basket but the points were taken off the scoreboard because of a charging call.  On the other end of the court A. Williams got a steal and was fouled going to the hoops but he did something he normally does not do, he missed both free throws.  At the 11:50 media timeout the score was North Texas 45, USA 42.

A. Williams added to the North Texas lead when he got the bucket and the foul for the three point play. USA started to close the gap but Mitchell got a dunk to push North Texas to a six point lead.  USA scored and A. Williams responded by hitting both both free throws after he was fouled.  J. Williams answered a USA score.  A. Williams on an offensive rebound and a put back gave North Texas a seven point lead with less then eight minutes left in the game. A. Edwards, playing tough defense, got the five second call to get the turnover and with 7:45 left in the game a timeout was called with North Texas up 56-49.

After the timeout, USA closed to within two before Mitchell was fouled on an offensive rebound. He put in both free throws. USA hit for two then Mitchell was fouled again on another offensive rebound and hit his shots.  Jones was fouled on his way to the rim and sank both free throws. USA hit a three to cut the North Texas six point lead in half. At the media timeout with 3:52 left in the game, North Texas was up 63-60.

After the timeout USA closed to within one and with 1:24 left in the game USA called timeout with the score 63-62 North Texas in the lead.

USA took the lead after the timeout. With 19.4 seconds left in the game they were fouled and making one of two free throws gave them a two point lead. With 13.8 seconds left in the game Coach Jones called a timeout with USA up 65-63.

After the timeout, C. Jones tied the game with 1.5 seconds left. Under the North Texas basket, USA tried to inbound the ball but they threw it away to give North Texas the opportunity to win the game in regulation. However, C. Jones missed a three point attempt and the game ended 65-65.

North Texas took the lead in the overtime but USA hit a three to regain the lead. A. Williams gave the lead back to North Texas on a two point basket. Franklin saved an errant offensive shot to Mitchell who dunked the ball to give North Texas a three point lead. J. Williams was fouled and at the line hit both free throws making it a 73-68 game.  USA was fouled, got the first to fall, missed the second but they got the rebound and two points. Mitchell then scored the last North Texas points with a dunk and several trips to the line. Although USA did add a couple of baskets it was too late. With 18 seconds left in the game and North Texas up 78-73 a timeout was called.

After the timeout, North Texas turned the ball over to USA but they missed several three point attempts before Mitchell got the rebound to end the game. With the 78-73 win, North Texas moves to 9-7, 2-1 while USA falls to 8-5, 0-2.

North Texas continues on the road to face Arkansas State this Saturday in Little Rock.