88R21789 JRI-D
 
  By: Plesa H.R. No. 970
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The University of North Texas men's basketball team
  brought the 2022-2023 season to a triumphant close by winning the
  National Invitation Tournament; and
         WHEREAS, Suffering just seven losses all season, UNT went
  16-4 against its league rivals but lost in the semifinals of the
  Conference USA tournament to the University of Alabama at
  Birmingham; the Mean Green rebounded for an easy 69-53 victory over
  Alcorn State University to open the NIT and followed that up with
  impressive wins against Sam Houston State and Oklahoma State
  Universities; in the semifinals, the team defeated the University
  of Wisconsin 56-54, holding the Badgers scoreless in the final nine
  minutes of regulation to advance to the championship contest; and
         WHEREAS, On March 30 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada,
  the Mean Green players took the floor in a rematch against the
  University of Alabama at Birmingham, a team they had met twice in
  the regular season and once in the conference tournament; North
  Texas opened with a 10-2 run and led by 10 heading into the break;
  UAB staged a second half comeback, and UNT found itself trailing
  53-52; with the title on the line, the Mean Green refused to give in
  and outscored UAB 16-8 over the final six minutes to take home the
  crown; the team cut down the nets in celebration of the school's
  first NIT championship and ended the year with a school record 31
  wins; and
         WHEREAS, UNT was led by Tylor Perry, the NIT Most Outstanding
  Player, who scored more than 20 points in four of the team's five
  games, and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Kai
  Huntsberry; the Mean Green also received valuable contributions
  throughout the year from the other members of the roster: Rasheed
  Browne, Aaron Scott, Christian Moore, Tyree Eady, Arsh Mattu,
  Moulaye Sissoko, Rubin Jones, Grayson Allo, Chris Morgan, Matthew
  Stone, Jayden Martinez, and Abou Ousmane; these dedicated
  student-athletes were guided by head coach Grant McCasland,
  associate head coach Ross Hodge, and assistant coaches Matt Braeuer
  and Achoki Moikobu, with additional support from director of
  basketball operations Andre Shaw and the entire men's basketball
  staff; and
         WHEREAS, The talented and hardworking members of the
  University of North Texas men's basketball team have realized an
  outstanding accomplishment by capturing the NIT title, and their
  achievements are a source of great pride for the university's
  students, alumni, and fans; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate the University of North Texas men's
  basketball team on winning the 2023 National Invitation Tournament
  and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff sincere best
  wishes for continued success; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for the Mean Green as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.