RICHARDSON, TX (02.17.11) - It got too close for comfort, but the UT Dallas men's basketball team held on for a tight 76-74 home win over rival Texas-Tyler Thursday night to extend the Comets' winning streak to eight straight games.

Last week, the UTD men not only locked up a berth into the American Soutwest Conference Postseason Tournament but secured that the event would take place on the Comets home court. On Thursday night the Comets played like there was no let down from winning the title until the final five minutes of the contest.

With 4:09 remaining, UTD (now 19-5, 15-4 ASC) held a comfortable 73-58 lead and just needed to lock it down to keep it win streak alive. But the Comets would manage just three points over that final stretch as UTT played like a team still fighting for a playoff berth, which it was.

The Comets' final field goal of the game came with 4:41 left on a layup by freshman Carter Nash and Nash would add one of two free throws on UTD's next possession to give the Comets their 15-point advantage. UTT scored five quick points on back-to-back possesions to trim the lead back to 10 points, 73-63, before junior Chris Barnes would tally a pair of free throws with 2:58 remaining to extend the UTD lead back to 12 points.

The Patriots (11-13, 10-9 ASC) then got a pair of free throw sfrom Jonathan Joyner followed by a pair of three-pointers by Brandon Levine to draw within four points, 75-71, with 1:00 left. After a shot-clock violation by the Comets, Joyner would bring UTT within one point, 75-74, as he banked in a trey with eight seconds left. UTD senior Brandon Greene would make the second of two free throws to doule the Comets' lead and UTD's Michael Johnson's potential game-winning three-pointer fell off the mark.

UTD shot 50 percent (15-of-30) in the second but still got outscored, 52-42, by the Patriots after the break. UTT hit 18-of-33 field goals (54.5%) over the final 20 minutes of play, hitting seven three-pointers in the second half.

Before the half, the Comets shot just 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from the field but held a 34-22 lead at the break. UTD forced 11 first-half turnovers by the Patriots and held UTT to just 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from the floor. UTD would draw within four points, 48-44, with 12:55 remaining in the game after a jumper by Johnson but the Comets would soon regain a double-digit lead and looked to be on their way to a smooth victory. Despite the rally by the Patriots, UTD never trailed in the game.

Senior Curtis Davis led three Comets in double figures as he ended the night 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting while adding five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Barnes had 19 points while Nash recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Greene ended the game with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Comets shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field, making 4-of-17 shots (23.5%) from behind the arc, and made 16-of-22 (72.7%) free throws. UTD held a slim 38-36 advantage in rebounding.

For UTT, Levine scored a game-high 26 points while Johner ende the game with 11 points. Levine also led the Patriots with seven rebounds.

UTD returns to action Saturday when the Comets host LeTourneau in the regular-season finale. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.

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