LAFAYETTE, La. -- North Texas had already experienced more than its share of heartbreak heading into its game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

That’s what made a 38-34 loss to the Ragin’ Cajuns so hard for the Mean Green to take. UNT was in position to snap a 12-game conference losing streak and win its first road game in Sun Belt Conference play in the Todd Dodge era, only to have the opportunity snatched away in the final seconds at Cajun Field.

ULL wide receiver Marlin Miller caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Chris Masson with 27 seconds remaining to cap a rally that saw the Ragin’ Cajuns score 14 points in the final 9:26 of the fourth quarter. The loss was the Mean Green’s eighth straight on the road in league play under Dodge.

“This group of kids and coaches deserve a win,” said Dodge, who is in his third season at UNT. “It’s a gut-wrenching feeling when you feel like you have it and let it slip away like the ones we have had. This will be a real test of the character we have on this football team.”

Perhaps the toughest part of the loss for UNT (1-4, 0-2) was the feeling it had made the game-clinching stop in the final two minutes when ULL (3-2, 1-0) faced fourth-and-5 from the UNT 33-yard line.

Masson overthrew Luke Aubrey near the sideline, but UNT linebacker Kylie Hill was called for holding. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored four plays later.

“It shouldn’t have affected us,” UNT defensive end Sam Owusu-Hemeng said of the penalty. “We should have bowed our necks and made the plays that needed to be made.”

ULL had pulled to within 34-31 just a few moments earlier when backup quarterback Brad McGuire scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal.

The Ragin’ Cajuns late rally spoiled a huge night for UNT running back Lance Dunbar. The former Haltom standout rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns while filling in for starter Cam Montgomery, who did not play due to a leg injury. The sophomore was making the first start of his career.

Riley Dodge threw for 209 yards, but tossed three interceptions for UNT.

Chris Masson threw for 122 yards and Undrea Sails rushed for 93 yards to lead ULL.

UNT finished with a 444-295 edge in total offense, but was unable to overcome a series of mistakes. Riley Dodge threw three interceptions, including one Dwight Bentley returned 70 yards for a touchdown. Andrew Joseph also returned a blocked punt 33 yards for a touchdown on a tough night for UNT punter Will Atterberry.

ULL took over at its 42-yard line on its final drive of the game after a 10-yard punt from Atterberry.

The Mean Green didn’t appear as if it would have the chance to get into a close game in the final minutes until coming back from a 14-point deficit to tie the score at 24-24 at the end of a wild first half.

ULL’s first touchdown came off Bentley’s interception return. The mistake was one of a few that proved costly for UNT early.

Linebacker Tobe Nwigwe was flagged for pass interference on fourth-and-7 at the UNT 34-yard line. The penalty set up a 25-yard touchdown run by ULL quarterback Chris Masson.

The Ragin’ Cajuns also scored when Andrew Joseph picked up a punt that was blocked by Richie Falgout and returned it 33 yards to put ULL up 24-10.

“The players showed tremendous resiliency at that point,” Todd Dodge said of UNT’s turnaround after Bentley’s touchdown return. “We got some momentum back after that interception for a touchdown.”

Dunbar played the key role in that turnaround in the first start of his career.

He rushed for 71 yards and scored on a pair of 1-yard runs and another that covered 37 yards in the second quarter alone.

The Mean Green appeared to take control of the game in the third quarter when it scored 10 unanswered points on a pair of 10-play drives. Dunbar converted a fourth-and-1 with a 15-yard run and then scored from a yard out for his final touchdown run of the game.

UNT thought it was about to break through for its first Sun Belt win since a victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 13, 2007, season after Dunbar scored.

The Mean Green didn’t lose that feeling until the final seconds of yet another crushing loss.

“It hurts, man,” Dunbar said. “We thought we had them.”