DENTON — Byron Frohnen recorded his team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but North Texas shot 53.8 percent en route to an 83-73 victory against UTSA on Saturday afternoon at The Super Pit.
Frohnen went 7-of-12 from the field, while fellow freshman George Willborn III added a season-high 17 points to lead the Roadrunners (11-16, 6-8 C-USA). The duo was joined in double-figures by Nick Allen's 12 points and 11 from Lucas O'Brien.
UTSA shot 43.8 percent and totaled 20 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.
Meanwhile, Shane Temara hit three 3-pointers and registered a career-high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds to pace the Mean Green (8-18, 2-12 C-USA). J-Mychal Reese also added 19 points and Ryan Woolridge tallied 13 points, eight steals and five assists.
North Texas shot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) in the second half and totaled 19 points off 17 UTSA turnovers.
North Texas jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before O'Brien hit a 3-pointer and tied the game with an offensive rebound and putback in the early minutes. Gino Littles gave the visitors their first lead, 9-8, with a layup and minutes later, a pair of free throws from Willborn III pushed the Roadrunners ahead, 14-13.
However, the Mean Green outscored UTSA 16-5 over the next five minutes to grab a 29-19 advantage.
The Roadrunners cut into the deficit with a Giovanni De Nicolao trey and an old fashioned three-point play from Frohnen. Another Frohnen free throw pulled UTSA within 33-28 at halftime.
After trading baskets early in the second half the Mean Green started to pull away with a 9-0 spurt for a 49-36 lead. The advantage grew to as much as 65-47 with 6:39 to play following a jumper by Reese.
But UTSA would not go away and cut the Mean Green lead in half with a 9-0 run of its own. Frohnen scored seven points in the stretch with a 3-pointer and two buckets in the paint before Willborn III capped the run with a jumper.
The Roadrunners trimmed the deficit to nine three more times in the final four minutes, but could get no closer. North Texas hit 10 free throws in the final 2:30 to seal the 83-73 victory.
UTSA will continue its road trip with a pair of games in the Sunshine State next week, beginning with a 6 p.m. (CT) matchup at FIU (6-20, 2-11 C-USA).
