Lance Dunbar finally had the breakout game North Texas (1-3) was waiting for, leading the Mean Green to a 24-21 win over Indiana (1-3) at Apogee Stadium Saturday.

Dunbar erupted for 280 total yards of offense, including 152 yards receiving. An 83-yard touchdown catch-and-run to open scoring served as his coming-out party, slipping one tackler before splitting three defenders with an ankle-breaking juke before cruising down the sideline to the end zone.

Indiana’s defense was a step behind the Mean Green all night, missing numerous tackles and getting bullied in the pass game, no more so than on a 17-yard touchdown catch from WR Christopher Bynes, who ripped the ball out of the hands of two IU defenders in the end zone.

Indiana showed some fight in the fourth quarter. With North Texas trying to eat the clock, the Hoosiers clawed back from 21-0 in the fourth quarter, sparked by a thrilling 31-yard interception return by Mark Murphy, who broke four tackles for the defensive strike.

Backup QB Dusty Kiel, who replaced starter Edward Wright-Baker in the fourth quarter, connected on two touchdown strikes, including 67-yard score to Kofi Hughes with just over a minute remaining to pull IU within three points. A failed onside kick snuffed out any chance of a comeback win.

The Hoosiers were hoping freshman running back D’Angelo Roberts would continue to tow the load after winning Big Ten Freshmen of the Week. However, Roberts was smothered for just 35 yards on 10 carries.

Indiana starting QB Edward Wright-Baker was on his heels most of the night, passing for only 209 yards and an interception before being pulled in the fourth quarter.

North Texas QB Derek Thompson finished with 201 yards passing and three touchdowns, finding three different receivers for those scores.

The Hoosiers fall to 1-5 in their six trips to the Lone Star State and drop to 4-10 all-time versus Texas teams.