DENTON, Texas --- Houston Christian University dropped its final non-conference game of the season on Sunday afternoon, falling 62-46 to University of North Texas at the Super Pit. Playing their third game in six days, the Huskies went through an extended cold spell in the second half as they scored just five points over a nearly 11-minute span in dropping their final game before the Christmas break.
 
After Trent Johnson's layup in the paint early cut UNT's lead to 5-4, the Mean Green scored the next eight points of the game to take a 13-4 lead. D'Aundre Samuels three-ball got the Huskies back within six at the 11:16 mark, but North Texas would then extend the margin to double-digits for the first time on a Moulaye Sissoko layup, making the score 18-7 midway through the opening frame.
 
The Huskies then put a spurt together to climb back into things. Julian Mackey had seven points and Demari Williams added four before a Pierce Bazil layup on the break finished off the 14-4 run that pulled HCU to within one, 22-21 with 3:53 left before the half.
   
An offensive rebound and putback by Trent Johnson at the 1:47 mark was the only bucket for the remainder of the half however, as Brenen Lorient scored four points during an 8-2 closing burst by the Mean Green that allowed them to grab a seven-point advantage at the break, 30-23.
   
The hosts would extend that run after the 15-minute intermission, scoring seven of the first nine points of the half to take a 37-25 lead with 17:21 to play. Elijah Brooks scored six points and Bryson Dawkins added a three-ball to cut the lead to seven, 39-32 with 15:30 to go.
 
From there, the Huskies went ice cold. HCU would miss 10 of its next 11 shots over a span of 10:39, getting just a layup from Ivan Reynolds and free throws from Trent Johnson and Porter Bazil over that stretch. North Texas mounted a 17-5 run to increase its lead to 56-37 by the 4:51 mark when Julian Mackey hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 16.  
   
HCU never led and the game was tied just once at 2-2, as the Mean Green used a staunch defensive effort that limited the Huskies to just 34% shooting on the afternoon, including a 4-22, 18% effort from long range. The Huskies committed only 11 fouls and turned the ball over just 11 times, but were out-rebounded for the second time in three days and suffered a 34-18 disadvantage in paint points.
 
For the second straight game, only one player got into double-digit scoring for HCU as Julian Mackey led the club with 14 points. Elijah Brooks and Bryson Dawkins each chipped in seven points while Trent Johnson had five points and a team-high six rebounds.
 
North Texas, now 9-3 on the campaign, was led by Johnathan Massie's 14 points off the bench. Sissoko added a double-double with 10 points and 10 caroms.
 
The Huskies fall to 4-9 overall with the loss putting a wrap on the non-conference slate and sending the Huskies into the Christmas break. HCU will be off for nearly two weeks, not returning to action until January 4, 2025 when it resumes Southland Conference action in Beaumont against Lamar University.
 
The Huskies will be back in Sharp Gym come January 11 when a four-game homestand ensues against rival University of the Incarnate Word.
 
 
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