DENTON, Texas – Sophomore guard Denver Jones paced FIU with a game-high 24 points, though, the Panthers fell short to North Texas at The Super Pit on Saturday afternoon, 72-57. The loss drops FIU to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the Conference USA, as the Mean Green move to 11-3 and 2-1 in the league.
 
Jones hit 9-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to record his sixth 20-point outing of the season, in addition to two rebounds.
 
Freshman guard Arturo Dean recorded nine points, five rebounds and three assists, while Petar Krivokapic added eight points on 2-of-4 shooting beyond the arc. Nick Guadarrama added six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
 
FIU shot 44.9 percent for the contest (22-of-49) while burying six 3-pointers at a 42.9 percent clip (6-of-14), though, just hitting 7-of-13 from the charity stripe (53.8%).
 
The Mean Green shot 50.0 percent from the floor, including 52.4 percent from three on 11-of-21 shooting, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line (15-for-18).
 
North Texas capitalized on 16 FIU turnovers for 22 points in return, while finishing with a 33-25 edge on the glass – which included 12 offensive rebounds for 11 second chance points throughout the contest. UNT had four finish in double figures, led by Tylor Perry with 20 points.
 
The Mean Green shot 47.8 percent from the floor through the opening 20 minutes, highlighted by seven first-half threes (7-of-16, 47.3%), to hold a 35-20 advantage at the intermission.
 
The Panthers came out the intermission with the edge, trimming the margin after an Arturo Dean transition finish with 16:03 to play, 38-27. A Mean Green 3-pointer reclaimed a double-digit lead, as Nick Guadarrama and Denver Jones connected on back-to-back treys to climb back, 41-33.
 
FIU went on to hit five of its next six shots from the field, capped by a Petar Krivokapic layup, to keep the margin within single digits at 46-37, as UNT would quickly shift the momentum with 9-2 run to bring about a 17-point cushion with 8:35 remaining, 55-38. Leads would balloon to as much as 23 points (66-43) over the ensuing three minutes prior to the Panthers rattling off a 13-0 run to bring the game within 10 with 2:02 to play.
 
Denver Jones sparked the run in tallying 12 of the 13 points, nailing a trey before an and-one finish at the rim, 66-48. A trio of free throws from John Williams Jr. and Jones followed prior to Jones cashing a jumper and another 3-pointer to force a UNT timeout a 66-56. Despite the run, North Texas would deflate FIU's momentum with back-to-back 3-point daggers from UNT's Tylor Perry (72-56), as the Mean Green would go on to hold on for the victory by the end of regulation, 72-57.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a crucial three-game homestand that welcomes a strong bunch of Conference USA opponents, starting with Charlotte on Thursday, Jan. 5. The matchup is slated for a 7 p.m. tip to be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE.
 
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