DENTON — After ending its 14-game home winning streak on Thursday, the North Texas men's basketball team bounded back with a 17-point home win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. 

The Mean Green (18-3, 6-2) set the tone early against the Blue Raiders (5-16, 2-6) in the 70-53 win. UNT was aggressive on the defensive end and attacked the rim on offense, which led to free throws and also points in the paint. North Texas finished with 34 points in the paint on Saturday opposed to just the eight they had on Thursday. Their 23 free throw attempts were 17 more than they had on Thursday.

"We showed more aggression and more fight tonight," said senior Michael Miller who finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds. "When we come out with a full head of steam on the defensive end, everything else falls in place."

All eight Mean Green players who saw action on Saturday scored with junior Roosevelt Smart leading the way with 16. The 16 points is the most he's scored at home this year, though he's scored more than that three times this year on the road.

Alongside Miller's 15, which is the 13th time this year he's scored in double figures and the most points he's scored in eight games, Ryan Woolridge finished with 14 points. That gives him 941 for his career as he closes in on being the 22nd North Texas basketball player with 1,000 career points. He already has become the first in program history with over 800 points, over 300 rebounds and over 300 assists. 

Woolridge made his first four shots on Saturday and finished 6-for-12 on the night to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.

"As the point guard, Ryan's the engine of this team," Miller said. "He had a great game tonight and that usually means a win for us, which is what's most important."

Saturday's win ends a three-game losing streak to Middle Tennessee and was the Mean Green's fifth all-time win over the Blue Raiders in Denton. Also with the win, the Mean Green are back at the top of the Conference USA standings with a 6-2 record. 

The Mean Green travel to Old Dominion on Thursday, who was in first place until Saturday's loss at UTSA and now sit at 6-3 in conference play. 

QUICK SHOTS
- With the win over Middle Tennessee, the Mean Green are now 18-3 in 2018-19, and the .857 winning percentage through 21 games is still tied for the best in program history over that period.
- North Texas was also 18-3 to start the 1975-76 season (Bill Blakeley's first season).
- This marks the first time UNT has posted 18 regular season wins since 2010-11.
- UNT has now won 15 of its last 16 at home dating back to last season.
- UNT is now 11-1 at home this season.
- Junior guard Roosevelt Smart and sophomore forward Zachary Simmons each started their 50th career games for the Mean Green on Saturday.
- With junior guard Ryan Woolridge's first assist of the game, that gave him 100 on the season. Woolridge finished with four on the night.
- North Texas held Middle Tennessee to 19 first half points, the lowest scoring output allowed this season by the Mean Green since surrendering just 17 in the first half of the win over Hawai'i in the Outrigger Resort Rainbow Classic on Nov. 11.
- UNT has allowed just 39 points in the last two first halves combined.
- Junior guard Roosevelt Smart notched his 10th game in double figures this season with 16 points (14 in the first half) and did so for the 42nd time in his career.
- Junior guard Ryan Woolridge finished with 14 points, his team-high 14th game in double figures this season (47th in his career).
- Senior guard Michael Miller was one of three Mean Green to finish in double figures, posting 15 points. It was his 15th career game in double figures and 13th this season.
- Junior guard DJ Draper finished with eight points, his highest scoring game since he posted 11 in a win over Maine on Nov. 20.
- UNT drew a season-high six charges in the win, including two drawn by DJ Draper.