North Texas slips past Louisiana Tech 24-23

RUSTON, La. -- Jeffery Wilson ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a 14-yard burst for the go-ahead score with 6:04 remaining, and North Texas pulled out a 24-23 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

The Mean Green (6-3, 5-1 Conference USA) took a 7-0 lead on Wilson's 8-yard TD run in the first quarter, but Louisiana Tech scored 17 unanswered points -- on Jonathan Barnes' 47-yard field goal and TD runs by Boston Scott and J'Mar Smith. Trevor Moore's 48-yard field goal as time expired in the first half pulled the Mean Green within 17-10.

North Texas tied it at 11:16 in the third quarter on Mason Fine's 22-yard scoring strike to Rico Bussey Jr.

Back-to-back field goals by Barnes put the Bulldogs (4-5, 2-3) up 23-17 with 13:35 remaining in the game. Barnes missed a go-ahead 53-yarder with 2:39 left.

Fine finished with 203 yards passing.

Smith passed for 168 yards and ran for 29 and a score for Louisiana Tech.

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