North Texas Daily

John Lugo / Staff Writer

The Mean Green men’s basketball team has developed a quick-style offense this season, but the team couldn’t keep up with a faster tempo from Brigham Young University on Tuesday. The team lost 97-67 in Provo, Utah, and couldn’t get the BYU Cougars offense out of transition.

UNT kept the game close for a little while, when the team led 27-25 with about eight minutes left in the first half. From that point, BYU took over and outscored the Mean Green 20-8 before halftime.

The Cougars continued to punish the Mean Green with a 26-2 advantage on fast break points and a 58-30 lead in points in the paint. BYU junior guard Matt Carlino posted an all-around game with five points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

“We didn’t do a good job of competing for forty minutes. We got embarrassed,” head coach Tony Benford said. “We’re a better team than we showed but we have to get better defensively, offensively, with more execution and more disciplined shots.”

The team couldn’t convert on free throws, only making five of its 14 tries. The Mean Green struggled to find a flow on offense and shot 35.4 percent from the field.

“It was a tough night. I didn’t make the shots I wanted,” junior guard Jordan Williams said. “We just got to give it a better try next game.”

Benford and Williams said they must continue to work on defense, and junior guard Chris Jones said he believes the game shows more of what the team must work on.

“When they have great shooters like they do, it’s tough to get back and stop the transition,” Jones said. “It’s just something we have to work on, but it’s early in the season. We’ll get it right.”

The Mean Green will take a break next week and return to the court Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. to face Stephen F. Austin State University.

Feature photo: Head coach Tony Benford and Sophomore guard Maurice Aniefiok discuss a play while in a time out during a home game against Oklahoma City at the Super Pit on Nov. 1. Photo by Harris Buchanan / Staff Photographer