North Texas has been fishing for a solution to the problems that have plagued its defense all season long.

That search appeared to pay off on Saturday in a win over Western Kentucky, despite an unsightly 68-49 final score. Defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach came out of the press box to roam the sidelines, Eddrick Gilmore started at defensive end for the first time this season and redshirt freshman linebacker Jeremy Phillips took advantage of extra playing time by posting his best game of the season.

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North Texas defensive end Eddrick Gilmore, center, celebrates after sacking Ohio quarterback Boo Jackson on Sept. 12 at Fouts Field.

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Those changes helped the Mean Green turn the corner after coughing up 35 points in the first half. UNT gave up just 14 points the rest of the way, which was a big reason the Mean Green was able to snap a six-game losing streak.

UNT will look to build on the victory and win consecutive games for the first time since the 2004 season Saturday when the Mean Green hosts Louisiana-Monroe.

“Defensively, it was a struggle in the first half,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt Conferences coaches teleconference. “We didn’t go a good job when their running back cut back on the outside zone.”

Dodge credited UNT’s improvement in the second half to adjustments DeLoach made to get players into position to take away the cutback lanes WKU’s running backs exploited early on.

Phillips played much of the second half at outside linebacker when he posted four of his six tackles and intercepted a pass from WKU quarterback Kawaun Jakes and returned it to the Hilltoppers’13-yard line.

The score was tied at 49-49 when Phillips posted his interception. UNT scored five plays later and never trailed again.

Gilmore finished with four tackles, recovered a fumble and sacked Jakes in the end zone for a safety in the second half.

Gilmore has been paired with freshman K.C. Obi at defensive end at times the last four weeks, but the two started together for the first time against WKU. It’s a combination Dodge likes. Obi finished with three tackles, including one for a loss of three yards, and forced the fumble that Gilmore recovered.

“He brings something to the table on the outside right now,” Dodge said of Gilmore. “Obi is also bringing a lot.”

Sophomore Brandon Akpunku came off the bench for the first time this season and posted a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, among four total tackles, but was called for a personal foul that helped spark one of the Hilltoppers’ touchdown drives.

Dodge said that Akpunku has been called for too many penalties, which is impacting how effective he is on the field.

Sam Owusu-Hemeng, who started the first five games of the season before being replaced in the lineup by Obi in a loss to Florida Atlantic on Oct. 17, did not dress for UNT’s game against WKU. The junior finished with one tackle in UNT’s loss to Troy.

Dodge would not comment on Owusu-Hemeng’s status Monday beyond saying that he is out of the Mean Green’s rotation.

Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Tevinn Cantly is also seeing more time at defensive tackle after starting the season at defensive end.

Those switches were effective in the second half when UNT’s defense came to life with DeLoach on the sideline instead of the press box.

 “Gary was so frustrated that he decided to come down before halftime,” Dodge said. “We will discuss if he will come down again. He will be back in the box for this game.”

Dodge named Player of the Week

UNT quarterback Riley Dodge was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his performance in the Mean Green’s win over WKU.

Dodge accounted for seven touchdowns in the 68-49 victory. He threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns in addition to rushing for 70 yards and another three touchdowns.

Dodge also received the award following UNT’s season-opening win over Ball State.

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