Stevenson scores career-high 30 as UNT beats McNeese 77-67

North Texas defeated McNeese 77-67 on Thursday at the Super Pit. The victory extends the Mean Green's winning start to their second game of the season. Je’Shawn Stevenson led the effort with a career-high 30 points. The Chicago native shot 12-for-22 from the field and added five assists. UNT also made three three-pointers.

The game began with McNeese establishing a strong lead. The Cowboys hit two early three-pointers. Larry Johnson finished with a layup to put McNeese up 13-3. UNT coach Daniyal Robinson called a timeout to stop the bleeding. He said the team had not found its defensive rhythm initially. Robinson noted that his players settled down after the break. UNT then scored and made stops to return to the contest.

Stevenson changed the momentum late in the first half. He hit a jumper to give North Texas its first lead. Shortly after, he added a pull-up jumper. These shots gave UNT a 34-32 advantage at the break. Robinson praised Stevenson's performance during that stretch. He said Stevenson made plays whenever the team needed a basket. The coach noted that Stevenson either passed to an open teammate or took difficult shots.

The Mean Green opened the second half with a 7-0 run. That sequence put UNT ahead 62-51. The team maintained its lead for the remainder of the game. Cash Chavis, a guard for UNT, commented on his teammate's play. He stated that Stevenson is the American Conference Preseason Player of the Year for a reason. Chavis said he loves playing alongside Stevenson, noting it is only his second game with the team.

McNeese enters this season as a top mid-major program. The Cowboys are ranked No. 9 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. They defeated UAB 99-78 in their season opener. UAB is a consistent contender in the American Conference. UNT, which has an 87-17 record since the 2023-24 season, sought to test its roster against such competition. The Mean Green finished last season with 19 wins under Robinson.

Stevenson credited his teammates for his scoring output. He said his team has high confidence in him. Stevenson explained that it is difficult to lack confidence when his coaches and players have his back. He added that the points accumulated naturally as he played. UNT now has a win over a team picked to win its league. Robinson called the victory a quality result that will help the team later in the year. He identified this as one of seven or eight nonconference games that will serve the squad well.

The win positions UNT as a contender in the American Conference. The team aims to build on its previous campaign's success. Robinson views this victory as a statement against a strong opponent. The Mean Green will continue to prepare for upcoming conference play. The result adds depth to UNT's nonconference schedule heading into the regular season.