DENTON, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic second-half reversal, the North Texas Mean Green erased a halftime deficit with a surge of defensive pressure and timely scoring to edge the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 72-67 in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at North Texas Coliseum.

A crowd of 3,026 watched the Mean Green improve to 10-5 overall, while the Golden Hurricane, which entered the game with a 13-1 record, suffered its second loss of the season.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the second half, where North Texas transformed a one-point halftime deficit into a decisive victory. After trailing 28-27 at the break, the Mean Green exploded for 45 second-half points, fueled by a stifling defensive effort that forced Tulsa into costly mistakes. North Texas converted Tulsa’s 12 turnovers into 12 points, a pivotal nine-point advantage in that category that ultimately decided the five-point game.

Tulsa, which had controlled the first half behind the interior presence of David Green, found its rhythm disrupted after halftime. The Mean Green’s defensive intensity, led by Cole Franklin’s four blocked shots and active play from reserves like Demarion Watson, clogged passing lanes and contested shots. This disruption was central to North Texas’s comeback, as they held Tulsa to just three points off turnovers for the entire game.

The offensive catalyst for the Mean Green was guard Je’Shawn Stevenson. The Chicago native scored a game-high 21 points, with 15 coming in the second half. His back-to-back 3-pointers early in the period ignited the North Texas run that shifted momentum permanently. Stevenson added three rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.

Tulsa’s David Green, a 6-foot-7 forward from Apopka, Florida, was a force, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Miles Barnstable added 12 points and five rebounds for the Golden Hurricane, while Tylen Riley contributed 11 points and five assists.

North Texas received crucial contributions from its bench and frontcourt. Dylan Arnett, also from Chicago, scored 10 points, while Josiah Shackleford added nine points, including several key baskets in the paint during the second-half rally. Buddy Hammer provided a significant spark off the bench with eight points and five rebounds in just 12 minutes, hitting a critical 3-pointer during the Mean Green’s surge.

Despite the loss, Tulsa held statistical edges in several areas, outscoring North Texas 34-34 in the paint and 9-7 on fast breaks. However, the Golden Hurricane’s inability to take care of the ball against North Texas’s aggressive defense proved too much to overcome.

The game was a tale of two halves. Tulsa executed efficiently in the first, building its lead through Green’s work inside and taking a 28-27 advantage into the locker room. The second half belonged entirely to North Texas, which opened with a 14-6 run to seize control and never relinquished the lead, answering every Tulsa push with a key basket or defensive stop.

The win gives North Texas an early conference victory and momentum heading into a Wednesday home game against South Florida. Tulsa, which saw its strong start to the season interrupted, will look to rebound next Saturday when it hosts South Florida. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Tulsa on Jan. 28.