North Texas Mean Green (6-5) vs UTEP Miners (6-5)
Game Info: Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm (The Super Pit)
Betting Odds: North Texas Mean Green -8 -- Over/Under: 129.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
UTEP faces North Texas on Saturday, January 16th at UNT Coliseum for an NCAA basketball C-USA matchup.
UTEP and North Texas played in game one of a back-to-back in their conference season series. North Texas was victorious in game one on Friday by the final score of 63-33. It was all Mean Green on Friday, as North Texas dominated UTEP from start to finish of that game. North Texas allowed 15 points in the first and 18 points in the second half in what was a defensive statement game by the Mean Green. UTEP shot the ball at a measly 21.2% clip from the field and an even worse 8% clip from three-point range, only making 2-25 shots from beyond the arc. North Texas, on the other hand, made 24-48 attempts from the field and knocked in 8-18 three-pointers in the blowout as well. UTEP's leading scorer in the loss was G Jamal Bieniemy, who scored 7 points for the Miners. North Texas was led in scoring by G James Reese, who had 16 points in the win.
UTEP is now 6-5 on the year and 2-3 in conference play to start the season. With the loss on Friday, UTEP has now lost two straight games in conference play, as the Miners also suffered a loss to Rice on January 9th. UTEP's leading scorer so far this season has been G Souley Boum, who has scored 16.3 points per game for the Miners. UTEP as a team has scored 73.3 points per game and has shot the ball at a 43.3% clip from the field. UTEP has also allowed 69.9 points per game to its opponents as well.
North Texas is now 6-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play this season. North Texas' only conference loss was not a great one, as it was a 77-69 loss to UTSA on the road. North Texas' leading scorer so far this season has been G Javion Hamlet, who has scored 12.7 points per game for the Mean Green. North Texas as a team has scored 74.3 points per game and has shot the ball at a 48.8% clip from the field. North Texas has also allowed 62.5 points per game to its opponents.
North Texas opens as an 8-point favorite and the total is set at 129.5. I think UTEP will be more competitive on Saturday afternoon than it was on Friday, but I still cannot take a chance on this Miners team. North Texas has all the momentum and should be able to pull off the sweep rather easily.
Ron’s Pick North Texas -8
AUTHOR: Ron Romanelli
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