Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (01.14.13) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team held Trinity to just 27.5 percent shooting from the field as the Comets earned their sixth straight victory Monday night, a 59-46 win over the visiting Tigers in non-conference play.
For the ninth time this season, and fifth time in the last six games, the Comets (now 12-4) held an opponent to 60 points or less as UT Dallas earned its sixth consecutive win after suffering three straight losses for the first time in six seasons. The Comets limited Trinity to just 14-of-51 shooting from the field, just 4-of-18 (22.2%) from three-point range, as they led wire-to-wire.
UTD got another "double-double" performance from junior forward
Kyle Schleigh as he finished the night with 20 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs, to lead three UTD players in double-digit scoring. Schleigh was 7-for-12 from the field, hitting three three-pointers, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line.
Chris McOmber added 13 points and six rebounds while
Nolan Harvey had 10 points to round out the Comets in double figures.
The Comets jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and never looked back, shooting 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the floor in the opening half, hitting five treys as a team, to grab a 28-22 halftime lead. UTD was extremely efficient in the first period, collecting 10 assists on11 field goals and committing just three fouls. Trinity held its own in the half, shooting 33.3 percent (8-of-24) with four three-pointers. The Comets led by as many as 13 points on two occasions in the half before settling for the six-point halftime cushion.
UTD regained its double-digit lead with 14:53 left to play with
Dmitriy Chernikov hit a pair of free throws to lift the Comets to a 37-26 lead. UTD would not lead by fewer than nine points for the remainder of the games as the Tigers hit just 6-of-27 shots (22.2%) in the final 20 minutes. Schleigh and McComber combined for 17 of the Comets' 31 points in the second half.
The Comets finished the night 21-of-48 (43.8%) from the field, hitting 8-of-20 three-pointers (40%), and were a collective 9-for-12 (75%) from the free-throw line. UTD held a slim 37-32 advantage in rebounding.
For the Tigers (now 11-5), David Lacey came off the bench for a team-best eight points as no Trinity player reached double digits. Jonathan Wilt had seven points while Heath Hopson added six points and a team-high seven rebounds. Trinity was 14-for-18 (77.8%) from the charity stripe.
UT Dallas returns to American Southwest Conference play Thursday night as the East Division-leading Comets travel to Louisiana College. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Pineville, La.
