North Texas holds off Oklahoma St., moves to NIT semifinals
In beating the Cowboys (17-18) at this stage for the second time in three years, the Mean Green (27-8) earned a bid to the semifinals on April 1 in Indianapolis against the winner of the UAB-UC Irvine game, which will be played Wednesday night.
Jasper Floyd and reserve Brenen Lorient added 10 points each for North Texas, which led 61-52 with 1:11 left and nearly blew it as Oklahoma State took advantage of turnovers.
The Cowboys got within two on a bucket by Bryce Thompson with 41.7 seconds remaining and had a chance to tie or win.
Coach Steve Lutz took a timeout with 0.7 seconds on the clock to rescue the last possession. Oklahoma State got Brandon Newman open for a 3-pointer from the wing before time expired, but his shot banged off the iron.
Newman and Thompson each finished with 17 points, while Arturo Dean added 12. The team's second-leading scorer, Abou Ousmane, made only two of seven shots and scored just four points -- eight under his average.
A pregame storyline centered on Oklahoma State's ability to force North Texas, which plays at one of the slowest tempos in Division I, into a faster pace. The answer in the first half was a definite no.
The Mean Green owned the tempo and the advantage, in part because they were able to make 3-pointers and force turnovers. Wright, their leading scorer, converted his first three 3-pointers to help them establish a 15-11 lead.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys not only struggled to make shots but also failed to take care of the ball. They made just 32.3 percent from the field and coughed up eight turnovers, enabling North Texas to take a 27-22 edge to halftime.
--Field Level Media
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Fox Sports
20 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Cowboys' Micah Parsons at Training Camp; Jerry Jones Sparks Contract Drama
Given that the Dallas Cowboys have gone 29 seasons since appearing in an NFC Championship Game — the longest drought in the conference — owner Jerry Jones has found himself occasionally considering whether to step down as general manager. "Yes, momentary," he said Monday. "Small fractions of seconds, I promise you." With his player personnel duties seemingly not changing anytime soon, Jones remains focused on how to get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. That seems unlikely to happen anytime soon without a happy, healthy and productive Micah Parsons in the fold, and the star defender's contract dispute was the primary topic of discussion Monday before the start of training camp. "There's nothing new about what we're talking about here today relative to contracts," Jones said. "If you say, 'Well, if you don't get him in you're going to lose the first two games, then go on to win the Super Bowl,' well, we'll take that," he continued, referencing running back Emmitt Smith's 1993 holdout. There were no updates on the on-field status of Parsons — who was present for the start of camp — from Jones, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones or new coach Brian Schottenheimer. It's the second straight offseason where financial dealings with standout players risk overshadowing the Cowboys' football preparations. The ever-loquacious Jerry Jones alternated between praising Parsons' business acumen and pointing out he had dealt with an injury for the first time in his career, missing a handful of games because of a high ankle sprain. He seemingly took a dig at Parsons' durability when probed about what they'd do if he didn't practice. "He was hurt six games last year, seriously," Jones said. "I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league, and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in Dak Prescott. So, there [are] a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money." When asked if the average annual salary is part of the reason why the Cowboys haven't been able to come to terms yet on a deal with Parsons, CEO Stephen Jones said it wasn't "productive to talk about any details about what's holding what up." "Contracts are four, five years, OK?" Jerry Jones chimed in. "There's a lot of water under the bridge if you step out there and do something in the first two or three. … There's a lot to look at over a lot of years that could make a big difference. "Have you ever heard of any clubs committing to any players, and they didn't pan out after they committed to them? We have." Jones also indicated that he had yet to speak to Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta. Still, the 82-year-old Jones said he still enjoys making player personnel decisions, even against the backdrop of constant criticism. While Parsons didn't directly respond to Jerry Jones' comment, it appears that he was displeased with what his team owner said. He reshared a social media post made by former NFL star J.J. Watt that read, "Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it… Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you." Parsons had 12.0 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games (Jones mistakenly said that Parsons missed six games), the lowest tallies of his four seasons in Dallas in each category. The 26-year-old defensive end is present at camp, something the elder Jones appreciates, but it isn't clear if Parsons will participate in the first practice. He's going into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Cowboys would be able to apply the franchise tag in 2026. The edge rusher market exploded this offseason. Only five players have eclipsed Nick Bosa's previous record mark for the highest salary among edge rushers ($34 million), with T.J. Watt becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history last week; he signed a three-year, $123 million deal, giving him an annual salary of $41 million. Previously, Prescott participated in training camp last year before getting a new contract before the start of the season that made him the NFL's highest-paid player. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out of camp before receiving a new $136 million, four-year contract with $100 million guaranteed last August. Those protracted dealings came ahead of a 7-10 season that marked the end of Mike McCarthy's five-year run as coach. Tuesday will serve as an indication of how Parsons feels about his contract talks with the Cowboys. Even though he did report to the team for training camp, he could opt not to participate in the team's first training practice and "hold in," an approach that has become popular among players in contract disputes who are aiming to avoid getting fined. Parsons admitted on the "Six Feet Under" podcast earlier in July that he thinks Cowboys ownership has made contract talks "more complicated than it has to be," but he said in a separate interview with PennLive last week that he's "going to get mine no matter what." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! 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San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jerry Jones says he'll remain as Cowboys GM and 'nothing new' in Micah Parsons contract talks
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Given that the Dallas Cowboys have gone 29 seasons since appearing in an NFC championship game — the longest drought in the conference — owner Jerry Jones has found himself occasionally considering whether to step down as general manager. 'Yes, momentary,' Jones said Monday. 'Small fractions of seconds, I promise you.' With his player personnel duties seemingly not changing anytime soon, Jones remains focused on how to get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. That seems unlikely to happen anytime soon without a happy, healthy and productive Micah Parsons in the fold, and the star defender's contract dispute was primary topic of discussion Monday before the start of training camp. 'There's nothing new about what we're talking about here today relative to contracts. That's been going on a long time now,' Jones said. 'If you say, well, if you don't get him in you're going to lose the first two games, then go on to win the Super Bowl, well, we'll take that,' he continued, referencing running back Emmitt Smith's 1993 holdout. There were no updates on Parsons' on-field status from Jones, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones or new coach Brian Schottenheimer ahead of the team's annual, nearly monthlong stop in Ventura County. It's the second straight offseason where financial dealings with standout players risk overshadowing the Cowboys' football preparations. Quarterback Dak Prescott participated in training camp last year before getting a new contract before the start of the season that made him the NFL's highest-paid player. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out of camp before receiving a new $136 million, four-year contract with $100 million guaranteed last August. Those protracted dealings came ahead of a 7-10 season that marked the end of Mike McCarthy's five-year run as coach. Parsons had 12 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games, the lowest tallies of his four seasons in Dallas in each category. The 26-year-old defensive end is at camp, something the elder Jones appreciates, but it isn't clear if Parsons will participate in the first practice on Tuesday. He is going into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Cowboys would be able to able to apply the franchise tag in 2026. Jones said he had not negotiated directly with Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, though Stephen Jones later clarified that he is typically the one who might handles such discussions. 'Obviously, we don't have a deal with Micah, and we have work to do. That's the only thing I would comment on,' Stephen Jones said when asked what was holding up a potential deal that will almost certainty make Parsons the league's highest-paid defender. Jerry Jones doesn't believe a likely Parsons hold-in would impact the team's development during camp, which runs through Aug. 14. 'I'm not concerned at all about what our team can be this year, and develop and develop into, and what we make of our training camp,' Jones said. 'I'm not at all concerned about a contract that involves and will affect that in any way, I can't emphasize that enough.' The ever-loquacious Jones alternated between praising Parsons' business acumen and pointing out he dealt with an injury for the first time in his career, missing four games because of a high ankle sprain, during a typically freewheeling hourlong news conference. The 82-year-old Jones said he still enjoys making player personnel decisions, even against the backdrop of constant criticism as the Cowboys have won five playoff games in the past 29 seasons. 'I like it this way, and if you watch this (upcoming documentary on) Netflix, you'll see I gave every frigging thing in my life and then exposed probably two or three times that to get to sit up here,' Jones said. 'Listen, listen, I haven't worked in 35 years,' Jones added later. 'I've had the damnedest run and the most fun that you could ever imagine.' That includes a memorable recent cameo in the streaming series 'Landman.' Appearing as himself opposite actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm to deliver a monologue about the importance of including family in his business pursuits, Jones joked the filmmakers cut the best take of an off-color joke he tells during a hospital room conversation with Hamm's stricken oil baron. ___
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Jerry Jones says he'll remain as Cowboys GM and 'nothing new' in Micah Parsons contract talks
Associated Press OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Given that the Dallas Cowboys have gone 29 seasons since appearing in an NFC championship game — the longest drought in the conference — owner Jerry Jones has found himself occasionally considering whether to step down as general manager. 'Yes, momentary,' Jones said Monday. 'Small fractions of seconds, I promise you.' With his player personnel duties seemingly not changing anytime soon, Jones remains focused on how to get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. That seems unlikely to happen anytime soon without a happy, healthy and productive Micah Parsons in the fold, and the star defender's contract dispute was primary topic of discussion Monday before the start of training camp. 'There's nothing new about what we're talking about here today relative to contracts. That's been going on a long time now,' Jones said. 'If you say, well, if you don't get him in you're going to lose the first two games, then go on to win the Super Bowl, well, we'll take that,' he continued, referencing running back Emmitt Smith's 1993 holdout. There were no updates on Parsons' on-field status from Jones, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones or new coach Brian Schottenheimer ahead of the team's annual, nearly monthlong stop in Ventura County. It's the second straight offseason where financial dealings with standout players risk overshadowing the Cowboys' football preparations. Quarterback Dak Prescott participated in training camp last year before getting a new contract before the start of the season that made him the NFL's highest-paid player. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out of camp before receiving a new $136 million, four-year contract with $100 million guaranteed last August. Those protracted dealings came ahead of a 7-10 season that marked the end of Mike McCarthy's five-year run as coach. Parsons had 12 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games, the lowest tallies of his four seasons in Dallas in each category. The 26-year-old defensive end is at camp, something the elder Jones appreciates, but it isn't clear if Parsons will participate in the first practice on Tuesday. He is going into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Cowboys would be able to able to apply the franchise tag in 2026. Jones said he had not negotiated directly with Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, though Stephen Jones later clarified that he is typically the one who might handles such discussions. 'Obviously, we don't have a deal with Micah, and we have work to do. That's the only thing I would comment on,' Stephen Jones said when asked what was holding up a potential deal that will almost certainty make Parsons the league's highest-paid defender. Jerry Jones doesn't believe a likely Parsons hold-in would impact the team's development during camp, which runs through Aug. 14. 'I'm not concerned at all about what our team can be this year, and develop and develop into, and what we make of our training camp,' Jones said. 'I'm not at all concerned about a contract that involves and will affect that in any way, I can't emphasize that enough.' The ever-loquacious Jones alternated between praising Parsons' business acumen and pointing out he dealt with an injury for the first time in his career, missing four games because of a high ankle sprain, during a typically freewheeling hourlong news conference. The 82-year-old Jones said he still enjoys making player personnel decisions, even against the backdrop of constant criticism as the Cowboys have won five playoff games in the past 29 seasons. 'I like it this way, and if you watch this (upcoming documentary on) Netflix, you'll see I gave every frigging thing in my life and then exposed probably two or three times that to get to sit up here,' Jones said. 'Listen, listen, I haven't worked in 35 years,' Jones added later. 'I've had the damnedest run and the most fun that you could ever imagine.' That includes a memorable recent cameo in the streaming series 'Landman.' Appearing as himself opposite actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm to deliver a monologue about the importance of including family in his business pursuits, Jones joked the filmmakers cut the best take of an off-color joke he tells during a hospital room conversation with Hamm's stricken oil baron. 'They took that out, and I thought it was the best scene in the whole thing,' Jones said. ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
