North Texas Edges McNeese 77-67 at Home
Je'Shawn Stevenson scored a career-high 30 points as North Texas improved to 2-0 this season.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
North Texas men's basketball defeated McNeese 77-67 at home on November 8, 2026. McNeese had opened the game shooting 80 percent and led 13-3 before North Texas took control.
Why it matters
The win gives North Texas a 2-0 start while McNeese drops to 1-1 after a three-day turnaround from a 99-78 win over UAB. It is an early-season result that shapes how both teams are viewed in the conference.
Je'Shawn Stevenson scored a career-high 30 points with five rebounds and five assists, while North Texas used a 19-point scoring run to open the second half and build a 53-41 lead. The game was played three days after McNeese posted a 99-78 win over UAB.
The players
Je'Shawn Stevenson
Stevenson is a North Texas guard who was named Preseason Player of the Year in his conference and posted a career-high 30 points in this win.
Larry Johnson
Johnson is a McNeese sophomore guard who was named Preseason Player of the Year in his conference ahead of the season.
The details
North Texas took a 34-32 halftime lead after Stevenson hit a last-second jumper. The Mean Green pulled away with a 19-point run to open the second half, and the game settled at 67-60 with four minutes left before North Texas closed it out.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: North Texas defeats McNeese 77-67 at home.
November 11, 2026, 7 p.m.: North Texas hosts Santa Clara.
Season Trajectory
Both teams begin the season against a backdrop of preseason honors, with McNeese defending its Southland title and North Texas beginning its conference campaign. An early 2-0 start for North Texas and a 1-1 record for McNeese will shape early positioning in the conference standings.
North Texas moves to 2-0 with the win, and its next game is a home matchup against Santa Clara on November 11 at 7 p.m. McNeese falls to 1-1 and will look to bounce back after its loss to North Texas.
The takeaway
Stevenson's career-high 30 points carried North Texas past a McNeese team that had started hot, and the Mean Green's second-half run was the difference. Early-season results like this one set the tone for conference play.
What happens next
North Texas hosts Santa Clara on November 11, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage, see Basketball in Denton.
Source note: This article includes information reported by North Texas Daily.
