FORT WORTH, Texas – Behind 23 points off the bench from CJ Noland, No. 7 North Texas defeated No. 10 Tulane, 81-71, in the second round of the 2024 American Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 14 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, the Mean Green (18-13) advance to the quarterfinals to face No. 2 Florida Atlantic on Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
Tulane (14-17) led for the first 10 minutes before North Texas took the lead after Ruben Jones scored five straight points to give UNT a 22-20 advantage and North Texas never trailed again. Tulane cut the lead to one right after halftime, but that was as close as the Mean Green would get.
Noland scored a career-high 23 points off the bench while adding five assists. Jones recorded 15 points, while Robert Allen scored 13.
Sion James led Tulane with his first-career double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
2024 American Men’s Basketball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, March 13
Game 1 – No. 12 Wichita State 88, No. 13 Rice 81
Game 2 – No. 11 Temple 64, No. 14 UTSA 61
Thursday, March 14
Game 3 – No. 8 East Carolina, 84, No. 9 Tulsa 79
Game 4 – No. 12 Wichita State 71, No. 5 Memphis 65
Game 5 – No. 7 North Texas 81, No. 10 Tulane 71
Game 6 – No. 11 Temple vs. No. 6 SMU – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Friday, March 15
Game 7 – No. 8 East Carolina vs. No. 1 South Florida – 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN2
Game 8 – No. 12 Wichita State vs. No. 4 UAB – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Game 9 – No. 7 North Texas vs. No. 2 Florida Atlantic – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Game 10 – Game 6 winner vs. No. 3 Charlotte – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Saturday, March 16
Game 11 – Semifinal 1, Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Game 12 – Semifinal 2, Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner – 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Sunday, March 17
Game 13 – Championship, Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner – 3:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. CT | ESPN
