CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Tony Mitchell had 21 points and nine rebounds and Roger Franklin turned in a double-double as North Texas defeated Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 80-66 Monday in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Mitchell’s scoring output marked a season high for the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year, while Franklin’s 13 points and 10 rebounds gave him his first double-double since posting three straight last January.
IUPUI (2-3) jumped to a 4-0 lead, but North Texas (3-2) scored the next 11 points — sparked by a fast-break dunk by Mitchell — and went on a 20-3 run. The Mean Green led 25-9 with 8:33 left before halftime, and went into the breakup 41-31.
North Texas went to work stretching the lead in the second half, opening with a 14-4 run and never losing the double-digit lead.
Lyonell Gaines led IUPUI with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
