--Florida International has seven regular-season Sun Belt games to salvage its season. There is some hope for a positive finish because the Golden Panthers will play three consecutive games and five of their remaining seven games at home at Pharmed Arena, where they are 6-6 this season, 3-1 in Sun Belt home games.

--Five of those games will come against Sun Belt East teams, with two of the next three against West Division teams. Florida International is 1-5 against the West this season and 2-3 against the East.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"They stepped it up a notch. They got the ball to their big man (Russell Hicks) and (Alex) Galindo hit a couple of shots. They were more aggressive on the defensive end and made us work for every shot." -- North Texas guard Tristan Thompson, after the Mean Green held off Florida International down the stretch for a 60-57 win.

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