Box Score SHERMAN, TX - The UT Dallas men's basketball team finished their pre-holiday schedule at a perfect 9-0, but had to battle to do it in a 72-63 road win over Austin College Thursday night.

UTD struggled to shake off the 3-4 Kangaroos, who tied up the game four times and continually stayed within striking distance of the Comets, who were coming off a one-week break for final exams. Despite having another nice shooting night from the field (55.8 percent), UTD wasn't able to build a double-digit lead over the Kangaroos until the final 2:44 left in the game.

The Comets were their own worst enemy for most of the night, missing 14 of 36 free throws (61.1 percent) and dropping the rebound battle, 36-24. Fortunately for UTD, Austin College also struggled at the line, hitting just 13 of 22 free throws and shooting just 41.1 percent from the field.

 After a sluggish start, the Comets tied the game up at 6-6 four minutes in and then completed an 11-0 run to take a 13-6 lead with 12:54 remaining. The lead got as high as nine in the first half, but AC battled back to tie the score at 24-24, then trailed by just five at the half (39-34).

The Comets scored just four points in the first eight minutes of the second period and the Kangaroos took advantage, pulling to within a single point twice, then tying the score at 47-47 with 11:52 left. But UTD finished strong, going on a 25-10 run to take a 72-57 run with only a minute left. The 'Roos scored a couple of late baskets to put the game at its final nine-point advantage.

Ernie Lowery led four Comets in double figures with a 14-point, 5-rebound night. Temaine Wright and Brandon Greene each added 12 points while Jordan Eppink had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

The Comets are now off for another two-week stretch before resuming American Southwest Conference play Jan. 3 in Abilene against West Division powers McMurry and Hardin-Simmons.

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