Nelson at UNT DALLAS
 
When: December 14, 2024
Tip-off: 4:00 PM
Location: Dallas, Texas (Ellis Davis Center)
Tickets: Sideline Tickets
Watch: SAC Sports Network
Livestats: untdathletics.com
Social Media: UNTD Athletics on X and Instagram
 
OPENING TIP
- UNT Dallas is back home looking to get on a run in conference play and capture its first SAC win of the campaign after setbacks by four points or less and one game in overtime.
- The Trailblazers bounced back from allowing a double-digit lead get away against No. 11 Langston and took down a team receiving votes in Central Christian on the road last Saturday.
- The 75-68 win last time out marked a third conference win that featured a double-digit deficit in the second half evaporate and had the highest scoring period of the season with a 50-point second half.
- Head Coach Josh Howard Featured on Inside the Sooner – Extending his legacy beyond the court.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS/PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Junior Greg Crawford (Houston, Texas) earned SAC Defensive Player of the Week, giving the Trailblazers back-to-back winners in the category. Crawford cracks the top 10 in the league in scoring average with an 18.8-clip. He leads the conference in total rebounds with 110 and is the only player averaging double figures with 10.0.
- Senior Ashton Howard (Cedar Hill, Texas) is averaging 11.4 points and sits atop the conference with 24 blocks (3.0 avg.)
- Senior Vernon Johnson (DeSoto, Texas) checks in second on the team with 118 points, third on the squad in rebounds with 45 and leads the league in steals with 22.  
 
A LOOK AT THE LIONS     
- Nelson enters with a 7-4 record and 5-3 conference mark.
- The Lions fell to Langston last time out at home, 64-63, after a blocked shot by Jordan Jenkins denied Joshua Smith from Langston only to have him recover and get a last second layup at the buzzer.  
- Nelson has dropped two of its three league games by a single-point and all games by one possession.  
- Nelson was selected second in the SAC Preseason Poll with 126 points.
 
ALL-TIME HISTORY
- UNTD is 1-5 against Nelson.
- The Trailblazers have dropped the past two matchups, both from last season. The team had an 86-83 final in the game away from Waxahachie. Johnson scored 12 points, had four rebounds, and swiped three steals in that contest.
-Senior Jayden Johnson-Blair is another returner from a meeting last season that surpassed double figures in scoring with 13 points and added six rebounds and five assists.