The stage for a big finish appears to be set for the North Texas men heading into the final three games of the season.

UNT not only won at Denver on Thursday, but New Orleans lost to Arkansas State.

When the dust settled and the standings were updated, UNT was left in a four-way tie for fourth place in the overall conference standings heading into a home game today against Arkansas-Little Rock.

UNT holds its fate in its hands. A solid performance down the stretch would earn the Mean Green the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and a home game in the first round.

"We are in control of what we have to do the last few games of the regular season," UNT junior center Keith Wooden said. "We have to try to play hard and get three wins heading into the conference tournament. It's realistic. We feel like we can play with anyone in the conference."

UNT (17-9, 8-7) has already won more games than any Mean Green team since the 1990-91 squad finished 17-13, and it can further establish this season as a memorable one with a solid finishing run.

The Mean Green will try to take the first step toward that goal in a doubleheader with the UNT women against a UALR team that has long been a nemesis. The Trojans (12-14, 7-8) lead the series 11-3 after beating the Mean Green earlier this season.

"We have had some tough games with them," UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. "They are solid, have tradition and have had a great deal of success."

UALR forward Rashad Jones-Jennings had a big night against the Mean Green in the teams' first meeting this season, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Keeping Jones-Jennings, who leads all of NCAA Division I with an average of 12.8 rebounds a game, in check in the rematch could be the key to the game for the Mean Green.

"We have to make sure he doesn't have career night," Jones said. "Those are the things we have to guard against. We have to defend them well as a team and execute on the offensive end."

UNT appears more prepared to take on that challenge after a win over Denver on Thursday night. The Mean Green had five players finish in double figures and broke a two-game losing streak.

UNT will play two of its last three regular season games at home, where it has posted an 11-2 overall record, including a 6-1 mark in conference play. The Mean Green's only home conference loss came when UNO's Bo McCalebb hit a game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

UNT will look to extend its run of success at home in its next two games against UALR and Arkansas State, a pair of teams it lost to earlier in the season. Both Arkansas schools are among the Mean Green's key rivals for the fourth seed in the conference tournament.

"We need to get these next two home games because that would give us a split with Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State," senior guard Calvin Watson said.

While the UNT men look to extend a season-ending run that has seen the Mean Green win three of its last five, the UNT women will look to recover from a tough night against Denver.

UNT (7-17, 4-10) lost to the Pioneers, 72-63, and endured a scare after the game when point guard Amanda Quattrocchi was taken to a local hospital after she had trouble breathing following the game.

Quattrocchi was released a few hours later and returned to Denton with the team on Friday. UNT's coaches were in the process of trying to schedule a follow-up doctor's appointment later in the afternoon.

UNT officials were not sure if the Mean Green's starting point guard would play today against UALR. The Trojans (17-9, 9-6) hammered UNT, 87-49, earlier this season.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.