There’s no disputing history when it comes to sports, and history shows that when North Texas and UT-Arlington get together, wackiness tends to ensue.

Three years ago, UNT lost to the Mavericks at home when officials counted a shot that UTA’s Jermaine Griffin appeared to hit just after the buzzer, and didn’t have a chance to review it because there wasn’t a replay monitor at the Super Pit.

UNT guard Dominique Johnson missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds in a loss last year, and the normally sweet-shooting Mean Green hit just 25 percent from three-point range two years ago.

It all adds up to the oddest aspect of the series.

UNT, a team that has won 20 games in three straight seasons, has lost to UTA in all three of those years and dropped five straight to the Mavericks dating to 1995.

The Mean Green will look to snap that skid tonight in a 7 p.m. game at Texas Hall, where the teams will face off on UTA’s stage-like home floor, perhaps the oddest venue in college basketball.

“It has always been a great game that has come down to the last few possessions,” UNT head coach Johnny Jones said. “They have done a tremendous job and been to the [NCAA] tournament. It has been a great series for us. Unfortunately, we have been on the wrong end of it.”

UNT heads into its game against the Mavericks off a solid 80-62 win in its season opener over Cameron (Okla.), a member of the Division II Lone Star Conference.

George Odufuwa grabbed 24 rebounds in the win, a total that ranked fourth for a single game in school history. Only nine players competing at NCAA institutions have grabbed as many as 24 since the 2005-06 season.

Junior guard Josh White scored 19 points and was one of four UNT players to finish in double figures on a night the Mean Green appeared to have adapted to adding several new players to its rotation. Junior-college transfer Richard Thomas came off the bench to score 12 points in his first regular season game with the Mean Green.

“We started to jell against Cameron, but it really started last summer playing together,” UNT guard Collin Mangrum said. “This is an unselfish team.”

It’s also a team that Jones hopes is ready to snap its losing streak against a UTA team that struggled to win its season opener against Dallas Baptist. Marquez Haynes scored 30 points, added six assists and hit two clutch free throws in the final minutes of the Mavericks’ 88-84 win.

UNT knows from experience that it could be in for a close game similar to the one the Mavericks played in their opener, while taking on a team that has quickly become a rival.

“To an extent they are a rival, especially since they have won the last two years,” White said. “We know it’s not going to be easy, but we are ready and have the guys to get it done.”

UTA will have the advantage of playing on its home court, with its unusual backdrop for shooters. White said that it can be awkward playing on the stage.

“They have put themselves in position to win and you have to credit them for that,” Jones said. “We have to make sure we become good enough to overcome whatever barriers and hurdles are out there.”

Mangrum is one of UNT’s veterans who has been around for the strange twists and turns in the series and will get to play for the first time tonight after missing last year’s game with an injury. He did not get a chance to come off the bench in the previous games.

“We have to get it done this year,” Mangrum said. “There is no way to get around it.”

Football

UNT to recognize military before Army game

UNT announced Tuesday that it has a series of events planned to honor the U.S. military before its game against Army on Saturday.

The school will host a flag football game among representatives of the three branches of the military. The winners will be recognized during the UNT-Army game later in the day.

Fort Hood personnel who responded to the shootings that left 13 dead at the base on Nov. 5 will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony.

There will be a moment of silence before the game and Fort Hood Commanding General Robert Cone will participate in the pre-game coin toss. UNT will wear helmet decals provided by Fort Hood to honor those killed or injured in the shootings.

UNT head coach Todd Dodge and his players will present Cone with a North Texas flag signed by the entire team.

Volleyball

UNT to face top seed FIU in Sun Belt tourney

UNT drew a tough assignment in the Sun Belt Confer-ence tournament that will begin Thursday in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Mean Green (12-20) will face top-seeded Florida Inter-national in the first round. UNT is the eighth seed in the eight-team event.

FIU (28-2) swept through its Sun Belt schedule with a 17-0 record and is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. Its only two losses this year have come against No. 10 Kentucky and No. 15 Florida State.

UNT enters the tournament on a two-match losing streak after falling at Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock.

Freshman middle blocker Brittany Brown posted her best match of the season in the Mean Green’s loss to UALR, posting 18 kills and 10 total blocks.

Brown led UNT in both categories, but couldn’t get the Mean Green over the hump in the five-set match.

“The highest seed we thought we could get was No. 6 if we won both games, and that would have meant playing Western Ken-tucky on its home court,” UNT head coach Cassie Headrick said. “We could have also gotten Middle Tennessee, which is extremely fast. I am never going to say that I am happy about playing FIU, but that might be the best matchup for us.”

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