Rubin Jones scored all 12 of his points in the second half and North Texas held Wisconsin scoreless in the game’s final 9:07 to snatch a 56-54 victory in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

The Mean Green (30-7) reached the 30-win plateau for the first time in the program’s 68-year history and notched their eleventh all-time postseason win, all of which have come since 2017 under sixth-year head coach Grant McCasland.

North Texas will face UAB (29-9) for the NIT title on Thursday. The Blazers edged Utah Valley 88-86 in overtime during the second semifinal.

Tylor Perry led the Mean Green with 16 points, while Kai Huntsberry contributed 12 points and five assists. Moulaye Sissoko chipped in seven points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Chucky Hepburn scored all of his team-leading 15 points in the first half for the Badgers (20-15), who shot a horrid 6-for-25 (24 percent) from the floor in the second half. Connor Essegian and Tyler Wahl each supplied 12 points.

North Texas entered Tuesday’s affair allowing five 3-pointers per game, the fourth-fewest in the NCAA, but could do little to contain the Badgers beyond the arc in the first half.

Hepburn finished 5-for-8 on 3-point attempts in the opening stanza, while Essegian and Isaac Lindsey each added a trey as Wisconsin built a 41-29 halftime lead.

The Mean Green switched Perry for Huntsberry to guard Hepburn to begin the second half, and the move helped North Texas crawl back into the game.

Hepburn was kept off the board, while Jones shook off his scoreless first half and catalyzed the Mean Green offense as Perry struggled to find looks from the floor, finishing the second half with just two points.

Essegian’s layup made it 51-42 Wisconsin with 13:10 to play, but the Badgers went colder than a Wisconsin winter from the floor, missing 15 of their final 16 shots.

After Jones’ bucket knotted the game at 54-54, Sissoko backed down Wahl in the paint and muscled home a layup that gave the Mean Green their first lead of the game at 56-54 with 2:07 to play.

Wahl squandered a golden opportunity to tie the contest when he missed two free throws with 49 seconds left.

Wisconsin had one more chance to tie or win after forcing a Perry turnover, but Wahl’s errant pass rolled away and the Badgers failed to get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded.

The Mean Green shot 21-for-48 (43.8 percent) from the field and finished the game on a 14-3 run, holding Wisconsin to just 13 points in the second half.

–Field Level Media

Big 12 Freshman of the Year Keyonte George of Baylor announced Tuesday that he has decided to declare for the NBA draft.

George made his announcement on Instagram and labeled himself “forever a Baylor Bear.”

George said, “Growing up it was always my dream to play for a school that felt like home & treated me like family. I was blessed to find that at Baylor!”

George averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33 games (all starts) this season. He also made 77 3-pointers and racked up 37 steals.

George is projected as a lottery selection, with some labeling him as a top-10 pick.

“I don’t really worry about where I’ll be picked — I respect everyone that is trying to fulfill their dreams,” George told ESPN. “I’m looking for fit, somewhere where I can learn and grow at the same time. It’s important for me to be an all-around player and not just a scorer. I’m looking forward to showing NBA teams how tough I am and the savvy I carry myself with.”

George was billed as the highest-ranked recruit in Baylor history when he decided to play for the school.

–Field Level Media

North Carolina State sophomore guard Terquavion Smith told ESPN on Tuesday that he is declaring for the NBA draft.

Smith led NC State with averages of 17.9 points and 4.1 assists this season and also had team-best totals in 3-pointers (91) and steals (49).

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

Smith also declared for the draft after his freshman season before later withdrawing his name. At the time, he said he wanted “one more season to get everything right and he a college student.”

Smith, who averaged 16.3 points as a freshman, said the decision worked out well.

“I improved my grades. I’m a year closer to getting my degree now,” Smith said. “You only get one chance to be a college student and get that college vibe. There was no rush for me. I’m ready to contribute to an NBA team now.”

Smith is projected as a late first-round pick.

–Field Level Media

Freshman guard AJ Storr is one of three St. John’s players to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, shortly after the hiring of veteran coach Rick Pitino.

According to On3, Storr, sophomore forward O’Mar Stanley and freshman guard Kolby King each confirmed they have departed the program.

Storr averaged 8.8 points in 33 games (17 starts) and ranked third on the Red Storm with 38 3-pointers.

Stanley averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 31 games (18 starts). He shot 64.9 percent from the field and was second on the club with 24 blocked shots.
King averaged 1.7 points in 26 games as a reserve.

Pitino was hired earlier this month to replace Mike Anderson, who went 68-56 in four seasons at St. John’s. The Red Storm went 18-15 this season and never made the NCAA Tournament during Anderson’s tenure.

Pitino coached Iona into the NCAA field in two of the past three seasons.

–Field Level Media