Box Score CLARKSVILLE, ARK (02.09.09) - Two weeks after the UT Dallas men's basketball team suffered a 68-66 home loss to the University of the Ozarks, the Comets were able to return the favor. UTD jumped out to a big early lead and handed the Eagles a 69-54 defeat Monday night.

UTD, which improved to 19-3 overall and 14-3 in American Southwest Conference play, ran out to a 40-20 halftime lead, shooting 50 percent in the first half and draining five 3-pointers along the way; then never let Ozarks any closer than 11 points as the Eagles tried to rally in the second half.

Jimmy Witten scored 11 points, all in the first half as UTD led the entire game. UTD opened with a 27-8 run, then Brandon Greene drained a three just before the half to give the Comets even more momentum heading into the dressing room.

The Comets' biggest lead of the night came after a Scott Rodgers fast break layup off a Temaine Wright steal at 14:04 that made it 49-24. Ozarks trimmed the lead down to 63-52 with 3:18 remaining, but could not get any closer, scoring just once more from the field.

Jordan Eppink ended up as UTD's leading scorer with 12 points, but Witten posted another double-double, adding 12 rebounds to go with his 11-point game. Greene also had 11 points while Wright, Ernie Lowery and Rodgers all scored nine apiece in a balanced attack.

UTD dominated the boards, out-rebounding Ozarks, 42-27; and held the Eagles to just 38 percent shooting for the night.

The win moved the Comets out to a 1-1/2 game lead in the ASC East Division race with the final regular season home game scheduled for Thursday night against UT-Tyler. With just two weeks left in the regular season, UTD, LeTourneau and Mississippi College are within two games of the lead. The winner of the East Division will host the ASC Championship Tournament on Feb. 27-March 1.

BOXSCORE