Box Score (HTML)

DENTON, Texas – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team opened a stretch of three games in three days with an 84-62 exhibition loss at North Texas on Friday night.

The Weevils hung with the Mean Green early, taking their only lead of the game on back-to-back three pointers from junior Richard Benedyth to hold an 8-7 advantage at the 16:32 mark of the opening period.

North Texas responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead for the final time. UAM cut the deficit down to two points with 12:20 remaining in the first half following a 6-0 run. The Mean Green responded with another run and this time went up by double-digits for the first time with 7:15 remaining before halftime. UNT took a 42-30 lead into the locker room at the break.

The Mean Green held a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, including its largest lead of 23 points with 5:34 remaining in regulation.

The Weevils shot 35 percent from the field for the game (25-for-72), 32 percent on three-pointers (7-for-22) and 83 percent on foul shots (5-for-6). North Texas shot 57 percent from the field (24-for-58), 38 percent on three-pointers (3-for-8) and 54 percent on foul shots (13-for-24).

UAM won the turnover battle 17-14, but lost on the boards 44-34.

The Weevils placed three scorers in double-digits, led by Richard Benedyth with 16 points, 12 coming on three-pointers. Senior D'Audrio Patton added 15 points and six rebounds, while senior Sharif Hudson chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.

North Texas had six players reach double-digits in scoring, led by Jeremy Combs' game-high 17 points and nine rebounds.

The Weevils are back in action on Saturday at home against Champion Baptist College. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. inside Steelman Field House.