Feb 26, 2011
RICHARDSON, TX (02.26.11) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team got off to a hot start but it would not carry over into the second half as the Comets fell, 77-69, in the American Southwest Conference semifinals at the UTD Activity Center.
The Comets (now 21-6) jumped out to a quick 13-3 lead and shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field, 8-of-13 (61.5%) from behind the arc, and seemed to en route to their third straight ASC title game. However, UMHB used a late first-half run, which carried over into the second period as the two teams battled to final minutes of the contest.
With UTD holding a 13-point advantage with under three minutes to play in the first half, the Cru would use a five-point run over the final 2:11 of the period to trim the Comet lead down to eight points, 41-33, at the break. Prior to that time, UMHB had not been within double digits since 26-17 with 10:32 left in the half.
The Cru (now 21-6) opened the second half with a three-pointer by Dean Pele to cut the lead to five points, but UTD junior Chris Barnes quickly responded with a tip-in on the Comets ensuing possession to halt a 7-0 run that spanned the intermission. But, UMHB got five straight points from Marlon Miller followed by another try by Pele to knot the game, 43-43, with 17:26 remaining.
After the two teams traded turnovers, senior Curtis Davis gave the Comets back the lead, 46-43, with a three-pointer with 16:29 left. UMHB got back within one point on a layup by Miller less than a minute later to draw back within one point, but senior Brandon Greene drained a trey from the top of the key to keep the Comets up four, 49-45, with 15:31 left.
With 13:07 left to play, Barnes hit a pair of free throws to propel the Comets back to a five-point lead, 51-46, and UTD would eventually claw back ahead by nine points, 57-48, when sophomore Reese Dahse converted three free throws after a foul behind the arc with 10:05 left.
UMHB then began a furious rally that saw the Cru outscore 17-1 over a span of just under five minutes and grab a 65-58 lead with 5:09 remainiing after a layup by Robert Moore. UMHB would not relinquish the lead as the Comets could only draw within four points on two occasions over the final minutes.
The Comets ended the game 21-of-48 (53.8%) from the field after shooting just 31.8 percent (7-of-22) over the final 20 minutes. UTD was 11-of-24 (45.8%) from three-point range and hit 16-of-19 (84.2%) fouls shots.
Barnes led four UTD players in double digits as he had 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2-of-4 3pt) and added five rebounds. Davis and freshman Kyle Schleigh each had 12 points while Greene added 10 points. Schleigh led the game with seven rebounds.
For UMHB, Pele scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range while Miller added 20 points, 16 of which were in the second half. Moore and Kitrick Bell each had a team-best six rebounds. The Cru shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) for the game, hitting 10-of-19 shots (52.6%) from three-point range, and shot just 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the free-throw line. UMHB out-rebounded the Comets, 35-27. The Cru will face McMurry in the tomorrow's ASC title game at 2 p.m.
The loss marked the third straight to UMHB for the Comets, including a 80-70 in last year's ASC title game. UTD's 10-game winning streak also came to an end, one shy of a program record.
Next up for the Comets is the waiting game as the field for the NCAA Division III National Tournament is scheduled to be released Monday. UTD has made the past two national tournaments.
BOX SCORE
BARNES
With UTD holding a 13-point advantage with under three minutes to play in the first half, the Cru would use a five-point run over the final 2:11 of the period to trim the Comet lead down to eight points, 41-33, at the break. Prior to that time, UMHB had not been within double digits since 26-17 with 10:32 left in the half.
The Cru (now 21-6) opened the second half with a three-pointer by Dean Pele to cut the lead to five points, but UTD junior Chris Barnes quickly responded with a tip-in on the Comets ensuing possession to halt a 7-0 run that spanned the intermission. But, UMHB got five straight points from Marlon Miller followed by another try by Pele to knot the game, 43-43, with 17:26 remaining.
DAVIS
GREENE
With 13:07 left to play, Barnes hit a pair of free throws to propel the Comets back to a five-point lead, 51-46, and UTD would eventually claw back ahead by nine points, 57-48, when sophomore Reese Dahse converted three free throws after a foul behind the arc with 10:05 left.
UMHB then began a furious rally that saw the Cru outscore 17-1 over a span of just under five minutes and grab a 65-58 lead with 5:09 remainiing after a layup by Robert Moore. UMHB would not relinquish the lead as the Comets could only draw within four points on two occasions over the final minutes.
The Comets ended the game 21-of-48 (53.8%) from the field after shooting just 31.8 percent (7-of-22) over the final 20 minutes. UTD was 11-of-24 (45.8%) from three-point range and hit 16-of-19 (84.2%) fouls shots.
SCHLEIGH
For UMHB, Pele scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range while Miller added 20 points, 16 of which were in the second half. Moore and Kitrick Bell each had a team-best six rebounds. The Cru shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) for the game, hitting 10-of-19 shots (52.6%) from three-point range, and shot just 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the free-throw line. UMHB out-rebounded the Comets, 35-27. The Cru will face McMurry in the tomorrow's ASC title game at 2 p.m.
The loss marked the third straight to UMHB for the Comets, including a 80-70 in last year's ASC title game. UTD's 10-game winning streak also came to an end, one shy of a program record.
Next up for the Comets is the waiting game as the field for the NCAA Division III National Tournament is scheduled to be released Monday. UTD has made the past two national tournaments.
BOX SCORE