Box Score RICHARDSON, TEXAS (02.28.09) – The UT Dallas basketball will play for the American Southwest Conference title after staging a determined, come-from-behind 65-60 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the ASC Championship Tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon.
The Comets (23-4) rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit by combining airtight defense and timely scoring to overtake the Crusaders (19-8), who had led throughout the games' first 28:15. UTD held UMHB (which had shot over 50 percent in the first half) to just 26.3 percent shooting (5-of-19) in the second period and forced 16 of 23 total turnovers after halftime.
The semifinal victory sends the Comets to their first ASC Championship game since 2005. UTD will meet five-time ASC champion Mississippi College for the 2009 title at 1:30 pm Sunday in the UTD Activity Center.
After giving up a 14-2 run in the first half to fall behind by 13 (19-32) at 3:46, UTD finished the first half strong to pull back to within nine (25-34) at intermission.
Jordan Eppink, who finished as UTD's top scorer with 18 point, made his presence felt in the first period with 13 points to keep the Comets close.
UTD still trailed by 11 (27-38) just two minutes into the second period, but went on a 12-2 run to cut the lead down to 39-40 with 12:46 to go. After tying the score at 42-42, UTD got a layup from
Ernie Lowery to take its first lead (44-42) at 11:13, then clamped down defensively on the Crusaders.
The final drama began, though, in the game's final eight minutes. With the scored tied at 46-46, reserve
Chris Barnes hit a huge 3-point shot to break a scoring drought, then followed that with a steal that led to a Lowery fast-break basket that gave UTD a 51-46 edge with 7:35 remaining. The Crusaders got a dunk from Tilmon Gaddy with 6:43 to make it 51-48, but UMHB did not get but one other basket from the field for the rest of the game.
Free throws kept the Crusaders close as they hit 15-of-19 in the second half, and were back to within three (60-57) with 2:24 remaining. Down by just three (60-57) with 1:13 remaining, Gaddy had a ball bounce off his leg on a controversial turnover call. UTD inbounded and got a clutch 3-pointer from Lowery to move out to a six-point cushion entering the final minute. UMHB cut the lead to four with :17 remaining, but
Temaine Wright hit a free throw to make it a five-point lead with :11 left and UMHB was unable to convert on a last-second desperation attempt down the court.
Lowery and Wright combined for 26 points to go with Eppink's 18-point game. UTD only shot 37.3 percent for the game, but had 16 more attempts to outgun the Crusaders. UTD left nine points at the foul line, hitting just 16-of-27 free throws.
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