THE BASICS:

RESULT: North Texas 81, Hartford 78
LOCATION: The Super Pit (Denton, Texas)
ATTENDANCE: 1,566
RECORDS: Hartford (1-6); North Texas (3-3)


THE LEAD:
Jalen Ross scored a game-high 29 points, but a late surged lifted North Texas to an 81-78 victory over the Hartford men's basketball team on Sunday. UNT placed five players in double figures in the win.
 
The Hawks netted four players in double figures, as Jason Dunne (12), J.R. Lynch (11) and John Carroll (10) each delivered at least 10 points. Dunne and Jack Hobbs each grabbed five boards as the Hawks outrebounded the Mean Green 32-31. Hassan Attia delivered a block and two steals in his Hartford debut.
 
A.J. Lawson led the Mean Green with 17 points, but he was supported by Deckie Johnson (15), Derail Green (12), J-Mychal Reese (10) and Shane Temara (10). UNT hit 13-for-22 (.591) from beyond the arc in the triumph.

FIRST HALF:
After the teams traded three-pointers to start the game, the home squad embarked on a 7-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. A Ross triple from the right wing got the visitors going on both ends, and the Hawks went on a 13-5 rally to garner the lead at 16-15. The first career points for Attia, on a layup with nice touch, pushed the visitors into the lead.
 
But the Mean Green responded with a 12-4 run of their own to get the lead back to seven at 27-20. After the teams traded baskets to 32-25, the Hawks embarked on a 11-0 run sparked by a pair of Andy Ramirez threes, to grab a 36-32 advantage. From there, the teams traded baskets into the locker room, with the visitors ahead by a 38-36 margin.

SECOND HALF:
The Hawks pushed the lead to four early in the second half on a Dunne three to make it 41-37, but the Mean Green responded with an 8-0 run to pull ahead 45-41 at the 17:12 mark. Hartford then locked down defensively, holding the home squad without a field goal over the next 4:12 to take a 50-48 lead.
 
North Texas used consecutive buckets to go on a 7-0 run for a 55-50 edge, but the Hawks bounced back with a jumper by Carroll and a three-ball for Dunne to knot the game up at 55. UNT pushed back ahead, 64-59 at the 7:17 mark on a Johnson three-ball, and the lead bounced between two and five all the way to 69-64.
 
Free throws by Dunne and a three-ball by Ross knotted the game up at 69-all with 4:21 left, and the teams swapped points to a 71-71 score. A Ross jumper pulled the Hawks back ahead 73-71, and the teams traded blows to a 75-74 score. After free throws pushed UNT up 77-76, the Mean Green got a clutch three by Green to make it an 80-76 lead with 19 seconds left.
 
The Hawks cut it to 81-78 and had the ball in the closing seconds, but Dunne's triple from the left wing rolled around and out to send the Mean Green home victorious.
  
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Ross extended his double-figure scoring streak to 21-straight games, dating back to the UMBC game (1/21) last year. Over that period of 21 games, he is averaging 18.1 points.
• The Hawks again improved their 3-point percentage, going 13-for-27 (.481) to mark the seventh time in as many games that their shooting from downtown has improved. The 13 makes were a season high.
• Hartford outrebounded its opposition for the first time, 32-31, as four different players snared at least four caroms.
• The trio of Jalen Ross (38), Jason Dunne (36) and J.R. Lynch (34) all played at least 34 minutes in the contest. All three rank in the America East's top 10 in minutes per game.

 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks return home for a midweek clash against LIU Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The game will be a doubleheader with the women's team, as Kim McNeill's squad faces UMass at 6 p.m. followed by the Hawks and Blackbirds at 8:30. Tickets are available by calling 860.768.HAWK (4295) or visiting HartfordHawks.com.