Je’Shawn Stevenson Scores 30 to Lead UNT Past McNeese 77-67

Je’Shawn Stevenson Scores 30 Points to Lead North Texas Past McNeese

Junior guard Je’Shawn Stevenson scored 30 points to lead North Texas over McNeese 77-67 on Thursday afternoon at The Super Pit. The American Conference Preseason Player of the Year shot 12-for-22 from the floor, marking his first 30-point performance and the first of the Head Coach Daniyal Robinson era. The last 30-point game for the program came during the 2024-25 season when Atin Wright scored 42 points against Charlotte.

Beyond his scoring output, Stevenson added five rebounds and five assists in the win. The performance pushed North Texas to a 2-0 record early in the season. The guard secured 16 of his points in the opening half to help establish a narrow 34-32 lead at the intermission.

McNeese opened the contest with a 13-3 run before North Texas responded with a 10-2 sequence to cut the deficit. The Cowboys pushed their advantage back to nine points at 23-14 before the Mean Green mounted a comeback. North Texas took the lead for good at the 1:17 mark of the first half.

In the second half, the Mean Green separated themselves using a 10-0 run that converted a two-point advantage into a 53-41 lead with 14:46 remaining. Backcourt mate Cash Chavis contributed 12 points, all scored in the second half while shooting 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Freshman Aeneas Alexander finished with 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting, including two 3-pointers and five rebounds, while sophomore Ousmane Ndour grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

North Texas capitalized heavily on turnovers and interior scoring, outscoring McNeese 22-10 in points off turnovers and 34-18 in the paint. The Mean Green also generated a 19-9 advantage in transition opportunities.

For McNeese, which fell to a 1-1 record, Jaylon Dean-Vines paced the offense with 20 points and six rebounds. Larry Johnson contributed 17 points and two steals, while Christian Nitu added 10 points and seven rebounds.

North Texas will have nearly a week to prepare for its next matchup, a home game scheduled for November 11 at 7 p.m. at The Super Pit. The contest serves as a rematch against NCAA Tournament team Santa Clara, following a three-point loss to the Broncos on a neutral court last season.

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