North Texas reaches NIT finals, shuts down Wisconsin 56-54
AP
Mar 28, 2023
LAS VEGAS (AP) Tylor Perry scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half, Rubin Jones scored all 12 of his after halftime and North Texas Mean Green closed on a 10-0 run to beat Wisconsin Badgers 56-54 on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the NIT.
North Texas (30-7) advances to the program's first NIT championship game on Thursday. Conference USA is now 16-1 this postseason.
North Texas, which trailed 41-29 at halftime, took its first lead of the game at 56-54 with 2:08 remaining on Moulaye Sissoko’s shot in the lane to cap a 10-0 run.
Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl missed two free throws with 49.1 seconds left and North Texas worked the clock down before Perry had it poked away. Wahl had a shot blocked at the rim, but Wisconsin secured the loose ball and called a timeout with 5.8 left. Wisconsin got it inside to Wahl but Sissoko knocked it away and dove on the ball to end it.
The Mean Green, the nation's leader in scoring defense at 55.7 points per game, held Wisconsin without a point for the final 9:07 of the game. The Badgers made just one of their last 16 shots - with 10 straight misses.
Kai Huntsberry scored four of his 12 points in the game-closing run for North Texas, which extended its program record for wins this season.
Chucky Hepburn scored all 15 of his points in the first half for Wisconsin (20-15), which was making its first appearance in the NIT semifinals.
Wisconsin dropped to 13-8 this season in games decided by five points or fewer.
NEW VENUE
The semifinals and final are being played at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas after Madison Square Garden in New York hosted every year but two since 1938, with the 2020 tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 event held in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The 2024 semifinals and final will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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1st Half
WISC
Badgers
41
NTEX
Mean Green
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Steven Crowl vs. Moulaye Sissoko (Badgers gains possession)
19:37
+3
Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Steven Crowl assists)
3-0
19:20
Kai Huntsberry misses two point floating jump shot
19:18
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
19:00
+2
Max Klesmit makes two point jump shot
5-0
18:48
Tylor Perry misses three point jump shot
18:46
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
18:25
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
18:23
Rubin Jones defensive rebound
18:15
+3
Tylor Perry makes three point jump shot (Kai Huntsberry assists)
5-3
18:00
+2
Connor Essegian makes two point jump shot
7-3
17:43
Tylor Perry misses three point jump shot
17:41
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
17:27
+3
Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Max Klesmit assists)
10-3
17:03
+2
Moulaye Sissoko makes two point layup (Kai Huntsberry assists)
10-5
16:40
Connor Essegian turnover (bad pass)
16:22
+3
Tylor Perry makes three point jump shot (Rubin Jones assists)
10-8
16:06
Aaron Scott shooting foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
16:06
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-8
16:06
Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:06
Matthew Stone defensive rebound
15:41
Jayden Martinez misses three point jump shot
15:39
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
15:27
+3
Connor Essegian makes three point stepback jump shot (Tyler Wahl assists)
14-8
14:59
Connor Essegian personal foul (Matthew Stone draws the foul)
14:59
TV timeout
14:48
Max Klesmit shooting foul (Jayden Martinez draws the foul)
14:48
+1
Jayden Martinez makes regular free throw 1 of 2
14-9
14:48
Jayden Martinez misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:48
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
14:23
Chucky Hepburn misses two point layup
14:22
Mean Green defensive rebound
13:53
Jayden Martinez misses three point jump shot
13:51
Jordan Davis defensive rebound
13:39
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point driving layup
16-9
13:08
Kai Huntsberry misses three point jump shot
13:06
Jordan Davis defensive rebound
12:54
Tyler Wahl misses two point stepback jump shot
12:52
Matthew Stone defensive rebound
12:27
Rubin Jones turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals)
12:20
Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) (Kai Huntsberry steals)
12:12
+2
Kai Huntsberry makes two point layup
16-11
11:59
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point layup (Jordan Davis assists)
18-11
11:59
Matthew Stone shooting foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
11:59
TV timeout
11:59
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 1
19-11
11:45
+3
Tylor Perry makes three point jump shot
19-14
11:30
Kai Huntsberry shooting foul (Connor Essegian draws the foul)
11:30
+1
Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-14
11:30
+1
Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-14
11:10
+2
Kai Huntsberry makes two point jump shot
21-16
10:55
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
10:53
Aaron Scott defensive rebound
10:44
Connor Essegian personal foul (Kai Huntsberry draws the foul)
10:43
Moulaye Sissoko offensive foul (Kamari McGee draws the foul)
10:43
Moulaye Sissoko turnover (offensive foul)
10:27
+3
Chucky Hepburn makes three point stepback jump shot (Kamari McGee assists)
24-16
9:59
+3
Matthew Stone makes three point jump shot (Kai Huntsberry assists)
24-19
9:40
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
9:38
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
9:35
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point layup
26-19
9:18
Tylor Perry misses three point jump shot
9:16
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
9:07
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
9:05
Matthew Stone defensive rebound
8:44
+2
Kai Huntsberry makes two point pullup jump shot
26-21
8:26
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
8:24
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
8:19
+3
Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Steven Crowl assists)
29-21
8:19
Aaron Scott personal foul
8:17
+3
Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Tyler Wahl assists)
32-21
8:13
Mean Green 30 second timeout
8:13
TV timeout
7:49
Moulaye Sissoko misses two point hook shot
7:47
Badgers defensive rebound
7:33
Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot
7:31
Matthew Stone defensive rebound
7:11
Chucky Hepburn shooting foul (Moulaye Sissoko draws the foul)
7:11
+1
Moulaye Sissoko makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-22
7:11
Moulaye Sissoko misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:11
Jordan Davis defensive rebound
6:53
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point alley-oop layup (Chucky Hepburn assists)
34-22
6:19
Mean Green turnover (shot clock violation)
5:56
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point turnaround bank hook shot
36-22
5:40
+2
Kai Huntsberry makes two point pullup jump shot
36-24
5:31
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup (Chucky Hepburn assists)
38-24
5:13
Max Klesmit shooting foul (Tylor Perry draws the foul)
5:13
+1
Tylor Perry makes regular free throw 1 of 3
38-25
5:13
+1
Tylor Perry makes regular free throw 2 of 3
38-26
5:13
+1
Tylor Perry makes regular free throw 3 of 3
38-27
4:52
Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass)
4:29
Jayden Martinez misses three point jump shot
4:27
Jordan Davis defensive rebound
4:03
Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot
4:01
Jayden Martinez defensive rebound
3:52
Jayden Martinez misses three point jump shot
3:50
Kai Huntsberry offensive rebound
3:28
+2
Tylor Perry makes two point stepback jump shot
38-29
3:09
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
3:05
Mean Green defensive rebound
3:05
TV timeout
2:53
Jump ball. Moulaye Sissoko vs. Isaac Lindsey (Mean Green gains possession)
2:48
Tylor Perry offensive foul (Kamari McGee draws the foul)
2:48
Tylor Perry turnover (offensive foul)
2:38
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
2:36
Mean Green defensive rebound
2:35
Isaac Lindsey personal foul
2:14
Kai Huntsberry misses two point jump shot
2:12
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
1:55
+3
Isaac Lindsey makes three point stepback jump shot
41-29
1:21
Tylor Perry misses three point stepback jump shot
1:19
Mean Green offensive rebound
1:19
Mean Green turnover (shot clock violation)
0:51
Isaac Lindsey misses three point jump shot
0:49
Mean Green defensive rebound
0:49
Carter Gilmore personal foul (Matthew Stone draws the foul)
0:49
Matthew Stone misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:49
Isaac Lindsey defensive rebound
0:37
Kamari McGee misses two point jump shot
0:35
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
0:19
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
0:17
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
0:14
Badgers 30 second timeout
0:06
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
0:04
Isaac Lindsey offensive rebound
0:02
Isaac Lindsey misses two point layup
0:00
Mean Green defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
WISC
Badgers
13
NTEX
Mean Green
27
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:47
Aaron Scott blocks Max Klesmit's two point layup
19:45
Tylor Perry defensive rebound
19:34
Kai Huntsberry turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Wahl steals)
19:26
Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) (Tylor Perry steals)
19:20
+2
Tylor Perry makes two point layup (Kai Huntsberry assists)
41-31
18:48
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point hook shot
43-31
18:26
Rubin Jones misses two point jump shot
18:24
Rubin Jones offensive rebound
18:21
+2
Rubin Jones makes two point layup
43-33
17:56
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point layup
45-33
17:41
+3
Rubin Jones makes three point jump shot (Kai Huntsberry assists)
45-36
17:20
Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot
17:18
Moulaye Sissoko defensive rebound
17:10
Kai Huntsberry misses two point layup
17:08
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
16:58
Max Klesmit turnover (bad pass) (Moulaye Sissoko steals)
16:43
Tylor Perry turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Wahl steals)
16:36
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
16:34
Aaron Scott defensive rebound
16:34
Tyler Wahl personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
16:34
TV timeout
16:14
Kai Huntsberry misses two point hook shot
16:12
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
15:45
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup
47-36
15:45
Jayden Martinez shooting foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul)
15:45
Steven Crowl misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:45
Kai Huntsberry defensive rebound
15:30
Tyler Wahl personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
15:24
+3
Rubin Jones makes three point jump shot (Jayden Martinez assists)
47-39
15:09
Jordan Davis turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Scott steals)
15:09
Carter Gilmore personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
14:50
Carter Gilmore personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
14:45
+3
Jayden Martinez makes three point jump shot (Tylor Perry assists)
47-42
14:24
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup (Chucky Hepburn assists)
49-42
14:11
Rubin Jones misses two point jump shot
14:09
Aaron Scott offensive rebound
14:06
Aaron Scott misses two point jump shot
14:04
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
13:52
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
13:50
Kai Huntsberry defensive rebound
13:40
Aaron Scott turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals)
13:34
Max Klesmit turnover (bad pass) (Tylor Perry steals)
13:29
Jayden Martinez misses three point jump shot
13:27
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
13:19
Rubin Jones personal foul (Max Klesmit draws the foul)
13:19
TV timeout
13:11
+2
Connor Essegian makes two point layup (Chucky Hepburn assists)
51-42
12:55
Rubin Jones turnover (lost ball)
12:42
Chucky Hepburn misses two point layup
12:40
Moulaye Sissoko defensive rebound
12:35
Moulaye Sissoko offensive foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
12:34
Moulaye Sissoko turnover (offensive foul)
12:14
Kamari McGee misses two point jump shot
12:12
Moulaye Sissoko defensive rebound
11:51
+2
Moulaye Sissoko makes two point hook shot
51-44
11:29
Tyler Wahl turnover (lost ball) (Tylor Perry steals)
11:10
+2
Rubin Jones makes two point floating jump shot
51-46
10:54
TV timeout
10:52
Connor Essegian misses two point jump shot
10:50
Carter Gilmore offensive rebound
10:46
Carter Gilmore misses two point layup
10:44
Tylor Perry defensive rebound
10:19
Jayden Martinez misses two point jump shot
10:17
Connor Essegian defensive rebound
9:57
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
9:55
Tylor Perry defensive rebound
9:33
Kai Huntsberry misses three point stepback jump shot
9:31
Connor Essegian defensive rebound
9:07
+3
Connor Essegian makes three point jump shot (Carter Gilmore assists)
54-46
8:32
Kai Huntsberry misses three point jump shot
8:30
Mean Green offensive rebound
8:30
Mean Green turnover (shot clock violation)
8:30
TV timeout
8:05
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
8:03
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
7:45
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
7:43
Mean Green defensive rebound
7:30
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
7:28
Connor Essegian defensive rebound
7:06
Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot
7:04
Moulaye Sissoko defensive rebound
6:50
Rubin Jones misses two point jump shot
6:48
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
6:28
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
6:26
Kai Huntsberry defensive rebound
6:14
+2
Kai Huntsberry makes two point floating jump shot
54-48
5:53
Kai Huntsberry personal foul
5:49
Steven Crowl turnover (lost ball) (Kai Huntsberry steals)
5:43
Tylor Perry misses three point jump shot
5:41
Aaron Scott offensive rebound
5:37
+2
Aaron Scott makes two point layup
54-50
5:35
Badgers 30 second timeout
5:34
Max Klesmit turnover (bad pass) (Kai Huntsberry steals)
5:31
Chucky Hepburn shooting foul (Kai Huntsberry draws the foul)
5:31
+1
Kai Huntsberry makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-51
5:31
+1
Kai Huntsberry makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-52
5:06
Isaac Lindsey misses three point jump shot
5:04
Tylor Perry defensive rebound
4:48
Moulaye Sissoko offensive foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
4:48
Moulaye Sissoko turnover (offensive foul)
4:48
Mean Green 60 second timeout
4:22
Tyler Wahl misses two point hook shot
4:20
Moulaye Sissoko defensive rebound
3:56
Rubin Jones misses two point jump shot
3:54
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
3:26
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
3:24
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
3:04
Chucky Hepburn turnover (lost ball)
3:04
TV timeout
2:47
+2
Rubin Jones makes two point hook shot
54-54
2:31
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
2:29
Rubin Jones defensive rebound
2:10
+2
Moulaye Sissoko makes two point hook shot
54-56
2:02
Badgers 30 second timeout
1:58
Rubin Jones personal foul (Max Klesmit draws the foul)
1:53
Max Klesmit misses three point pullup jump shot
1:51
Tylor Perry defensive rebound
1:22
Tylor Perry misses three point jump shot
1:20
Moulaye Sissoko offensive rebound
1:02
Kai Huntsberry misses three point pullup jump shot
1:00
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
0:49
Tylor Perry shooting foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
0:49
Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:49
Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:49
Aaron Scott defensive rebound
0:40
Chucky Hepburn personal foul (Tylor Perry draws the foul)
0:21
Tylor Perry turnover (lost ball) (Max Klesmit steals)
