RICHARDSON, TX (02.13.14) - The No. 20-ranked UT Dallas men's basketball team hit nine three-pointers in the second half as the Comets turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 25-point win in a 95-70 victory over East Texas Baptist Thursday night in American Southwest Conference play.

The Comets (now 20-2, 18-1 ASC) secured at least a share of the ASC regular-season title while hitting the 20-win mark for the sixth straight season. UTD needs just one more win over its final three games to lock down the right to host the ASC Tournament for the second straight season and third time in four years.

Despite shooting nearly 52 percent from the field in the opening half, the Comets had a slim 39-32 lead at the break after a buzzer-beating three-pointer by ETBU's Arron Holmes. But, the trio of Matthew Medell, Dmitriy Chernikov and Nolan Harvey led the charge in the second half, combining for 45 of the Comets' 56 points over the final 20 minutes. Medell and Chernikov each had three second-half treys while Harvey was 2-for-2 from long range after the break.

Medell hit a long jumper on the Comets' first possession of the second half to ignite a 32-12 run over the first 8:36 of the period as UTD regained the momentum it had lost late in the first half. During that stretch, UTD hit six of its nine second-half treys, en route to a 71-44 lead with 11:24 left to play. The Comets widened its lead to as many as 34 points with 3:41 left when Chernikov hit a free throw to give UTD a 93-59 lead. The Comets then slowed down the pace and had just one field goal for the remainder of the game.

Both Medell and Chernikov finished with career highs as UTD went 12-of-31 (38.7%) from three-point range for the game. Medell, who topped his career-best of 24 points set in UTD's last outing, was 13-for-17 from the field, hitting a team-high five three-pointers, for 31 points while Chernikov was 10-for-13, for 26 points. Harvey finished the night with 17 points, topping double digits for the eighth straight contest, while Kyle Schleigh recorded his 10th "double-double" of the year with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

UTD opened the game with a 7-0 run and never trailed to the Tigers. The Comets led by as many as 21 points in the first half, 35-14, with 5:44 remaining, before ETBU finished the half on a 18-4 run of its own. The Comets went a combined 2-for-9 in the final five minutes of the first half.

The Comets were 35-of-64 from the field, dishing out a school-record 30 assists as a team. The previous record for assists in a game was 29, set against Concordia Texas on Dec. 9, 2006. Eight different UTD players had at least one assist with Harvey and Medell each finishing the night with a game-high six.

UTD was 13-of-19 (68.4%) from the free-throw line and out-rebounded the Tigers, 37-30. The Comets ended the night shooting 54.7 percent from the field, topping 50 percent for the 12th time this season.

For ETBU (now 8-13, 6-12 ASC), two bench players finished as the only Tigers in double figures. C.J. Jones led ETBU with 16 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Tyler Day had 15 points. The Tigers shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the floor, hitting 11-of-28 three-pointers (39.3%), and were 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the foul line.

UTD will get its first chance to lock up home court advantage for the ASC Tournament Saturday afternoon when the Comets host LeTourneau. Game time is 3 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center. Prior to the contest, five members of the squad will be recognized as part of Senior Day festivities.