RICHARDSON, TX (01.31.11) - After recent struggles from three-point range, the UT Dallas men's basketball team got hot from behind the arc Monday night as the Comets ran away with a 78-61 home win over the University of the Ozarks at the UTD Activity Center.

With the win, the Comets (now 15-5, 11-4 ASC) take over sole possession first place in the American Southwest Conference East Division, now half a game ahead of East Texas Baptist, with five games left on the schedule. The winner of the East Division will host the ASC Postseason Tournament this season.

Junior Chris Barnes led the Comets with 21 points while senior Curtis Davis had a superb all-around performance with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in UTD's fourth straight victory. Freshman Carter Nash came off the bench for 10 points as the only other Comets in double digits. Freshman Kyle Schleigh led UTD with a game-high eight rebounds.

UTD entered Monday's game 1-for-38 from three-point range over its last two ASC games, but really found a rhythm early on as the Comets hit six treys in the first half to grab a 38-28 halftime lead over the visiting Eagles. UTD nearly shot 50 percent as a team in the opening half, hitting 15-of-32 shots (46.9%) from the field and 6-of-16 attempts (37.5%) from three-point range.

The Comets opened the second half with a three by Davis and would never lead by less than nine points in the second half. UTD took its first 20-point lead of the night with 11:57 to play when Barnes added a trey to boost the Comets to a 60-39 advantage. UTD would extend its lead to as many as 24 points, 63-39, on a jumper by sophomore Reese Dahse with 10:12 remaining before holding on for the 17-point win.

UTD shot 50.8 percent (32-of-63) as a team on the night, hitting 10-of-26 treys (38.5%), while making 4-of-8 shots from the foul line. The Comets had a slight advantage in rebounding, out-boarding the Eagles, 37-31.

Ozarks (now 6-14, 3-13 ASC) got 12 points from Andre Williams and 11 points from David Robertson. Marcus Bobb led the Eagles with six rebounds. UO shot just 39.7 percent (23-of-58) on the night, hitting 5-of-21 three-pointers (23.8%), and was 10-for-11 (90.9%) from the charity stripe.

The Comets return to action Saturday afternoon with their final road game of the regular season. UTD will visit East Texas Baptist at 3 p.m. in Marshall before returning home for four straight home games before the postseason.