North Texas Basketball Star Shines with 42 Points in Win Over Charlotte

DENTON, Texas — Atin Wright delivered a sensational performance Thursday night, scoring 42 points in the University of North Texas men’s basketball team’s 75-64 victory against Charlotte. The victory, taking place at the Super Pit, marks North Texas’ seventh consecutive win and clinches their position as the No. 2 seed in the upcoming American Athletic Conference tournament.

The Mean Green (23-6, 14-3 AAC) now stand tied for the second-most wins in a single season in program history. Wright’s impressive scoring not only brought him within one point of the conference’s single-game record of 43, set by Memphis’ Jeremiah Martin in February 2019, but also tied his personal best in career scoring. Previously, he achieved the same feat during his junior year at Cal State Northridge against UC Davis.

“Atin’s performance was one of the most special individual performances that the league has ever seen,” said Mean Green head coach Grant McCasland. “It wasn’t like he got 42 points in a blowout, either — every single basket he made, we needed.”

Wright’s stellar night was bolstered by his shooting accuracy, hitting 12 of 17 shots from the field, including 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, and making all 10 of his free throws. He contributed 29 points in the second half alone, helping to shift momentum in favor of North Texas. The team’s victory was crucial as they entered halftime tied at 33-33.

In addition to Wright’s scoring, UNT saw significant contributions from other players. One player scored 12 points, helping to support the Mean Green’s offensive efforts. The 49ers (10-20, 3-14 AAC) were led in scoring by their own standout, who finished with 20 points and two steals, while another player added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

North Texas took control of the game with a decisive 10-point run that began with a jumper from Wright at the 14:19 mark of the second half, giving them a lead of 53-43 shortly thereafter.

As the regular season comes to a close, the Mean Green’s next challenge is a matchup against Temple in Philadelphia on Sunday. Following that, they will begin their postseason play on March 14 in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.

For fans looking to attend future games, tickets can be purchased through the Mean Green Ticket Office by calling 940-565-2527, emailing [email protected], or by visiting www.meangreentickets.com. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.