DENTON — Despite holding the opposition to nearly 20 points below its season average, the North Texas men's basketball had its Conference USA-best 14-game home winning streak snapped Thursday night at the hands of UAB, 52-49.

The Mean Green (17-3, 5-2) who were shorthanded without everyday starter Jorden Duffy, struggled to attack the rim against the Blazers' (13-7, 5-2) defense and only ended up taking a couple trips to the free throw line where they finished 1-for-6 on the night. On the defensive end, North Texas allowed 10 second-half offensive rebounds and allowed a late run by UAB to edge them in the end.

"Give UAB all the credit in this one," said UNT head coach Grant McCasland. "I thought they were the more physical team. They outrebounded us and then points in the paint, we haven't had a difference in point in the paint like that all year. But you could tell they were more physical at the rim than us."

North Texas made 12 three-pointers Thursday to just six two-point field goals. However, UAB who made half as many threes on the night only made one more field goal than the Mean Green but finished eight of 15 at the free throw line. The 49 points scored Thursday were the fewest by the Mean Green this season, surpassing the previous season low of 57 at Oklahoma on Nov. 27. 

73 percent of UNT's offense came from beyond the arc. Redshirt freshman Umoja Gibson led the team with five three-pointers and now has a team-high 53 on the year. Gibson is on track to surpass Chris Davis' freshman mark of 77, which is the program-record for a freshman. 

The Mean Green nearly, though, made a six-point comeback with two seconds left in the game thanks to Gibson.

Trailing by six, Gibson made a second-chance three-pointer with just two seconds on the clock. Then UAB fumbled the inbound pass out of bounds along the Mean Green bench. North Texas got the ball in to Gibson where he managed to get a three-point shot off from the near wing but put too much on it and missed. 

North Texas will back at the Super Pit on Saturday where they will face Middle Tennessee (5-15, 2-5) who fell 79-68 in Houston at Rice on Thursday. 

"We didn't spend a whole lot of time after the game talking about it in the locker room," McCasland said of the loss. "It's pretty simple. We got outrebounded and they were more physical. 

"(Friday's practice) will tell a lot about our team. It can be a great learning experience for our team to get better. Everyone has hiccups throughout a season and this was one for us, especially for it to happen at home," he added. 

QUICK SHOTS

• With the loss to UAB, the Mean Green are now 17-3 in 2018-19, and the .850 winning percentage through 20 games is still tied for the best in program history over that period.
• North Texas was also 17-3 to start the 1975-76 season (Bill Blakeley's first season).
• Prior to tonight's loss, UNT had won 14 straight at home dating back to last season.
• UNT is now 10-1 at home this season.
• North Texas held UAB scoreless for the first 4:34 of the game.
• Redshirt freshman Umoja Gibson connected on five three-point field goals, giving him 53 on the season through 20 games. (5 of 13 on the night)
• The program record for a freshman is 77, set by Chris Davis in 1999-00.
• UAB was held to 22 first half points, tying for the fewest allowed in conference play this season.
•  North Texas also held UTEP to 22 first half points in the win on Jan. 10
• The Mean Green had 24 points at halftime, 18 of which came from beyond the arc (75%)
• North Texas held UAB well below its scoring average for the season (71.1 ppg heading into tonight's game). The 52 points for the Blazers are the fewest they've scored all season.
• The previous low for UAB was 53 in a loss at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10