PINEVILLE, LA (02.08.14) - Thanks to a career-high 24 points from junior Matthew Medell, the UT Dallas men's basketball team extended its best start in program history with a 72-67 road win over Louisiana College Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference play.

The No. 24-ranked Comets (now 19-2, 17-1 ASC) are now winners of 14 of their last 15 games and just one win shy of securing at least a share of the ASC regular-season title. With four games left on the schedule, UTD is a full three games ahead of second-place Hardin-Simmons (14-4) in the ASC standings. With two wins over the final four games, or a win an HSU loss, the Comets would host the ASC Tournament for the second straight season.

UTD struggled from three-point range, hitting just 6-of-23 (26.1%) outside shots, but was able to rally back after a late surge by the host Wildcats to improve to 10-1 on the road this season. The Comets entered Saturday shooting a league-best 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Leading 32-25 at the break, the Comets extended its lead to a nine points, 36-27, just over minute into the second half after a Medell layup. However, LC slowly chipped away at the Comets lead and eventually grab a lead of its own, 44-43, with 13:56 to play.

The Wildcats widened its lead to four points before UTD bounced and regained a one-point advantage, 50-49, after a Carter Nash layup with 11:35 remaining. Four lead changes later, the Comets grabbed the lead for good with 9:34 left on a Nolan Harvey layup. UTD held the Wildcats to just nine points over the final minutes as the Comets pulled away for the seven-point win.

The Comets shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field and hit just 16-of-26 free throws (61.5%). Medell was 9-for-13 from the floor, hitting one three-pointer, and hit 5-of-6 free throws. Kyle Schleigh added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds while Harvey finished with 10 points. UTD out-rebounded the Wildcats, 37-32.

For LC (now 9-10, 9-8 ASC), Kevin Lewis scored a game-high 28 points to lead three Wildcats in double figures. Kevin Cottonham had 13 points and Raheem Regis added 10 points. LC shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field, hitting 9-of-20 (45%) three-pointers, and shot 80 percent (8-of-10) from the foul line.

The Comets return home Thursday night to host East Texas Baptist. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.