Box Score SHERMAN, TX (11.26.13) - Despite hitting just 1-of-16 shots from three-point range, the UT Dallas men's basketball team took advantage of many trips to the foul line and won the rebounding battle to earn a 67-56 road win over Austin College Tuesday night in non-conference play.
The Comets (now 3-0) out-rebounded Austin College, 43-25, leading wire-to-wire en route to their third straight win to open the season.
Kyle Schleigh led UTD with 20 points while
Carter Nash added 19 points and
Matthew Medell finished with 12 points. Schleigh, who was 5-for-10 from the field and 10-for-13 from the free-throw line, also ended the contest with a game-high 13 rebounds, recording his second "double-double" of the season.
After a hot start in which they shot 50% in the first half, the Comets cooled off considerably after halftime, hitting just 7-of-26 (26.9%). The cold streak allowed the 'Roos (1-3) to rally from the 35-23 halftime deficit to tie the score at 51-51 with still 7:28 to go. But UTD answered immediately with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes and gave themselves a cushion that would hold up the rest of the way.
Both teams were cold out of the gate, with the Comets finally opening the scoring 3:38 into the game with a three-point bucket from
Matthew Medell (the only three-pointer UTD would tally on the night). The 'Roos didn't convert on a shot from the floor until the 13:36 mark, but UTD answered with a quick run immediately and were up by 10 (19-9) just two minutes later, cruising to the 12-point halftime lead. UTD scored 18 of its 35 first-half points at the foul line.
The game script reversed almost 180 degrees after intermission. A pair of Chernikov free throws extended the Comets advantage to 14 points (37-23) in the first minute of the second period, but a 15-6 run by Austin College got the score close again at 43-38 with still 14:28 to play. The 'Roos weren't finished, rattling off another 13-8 scoring burst to finally tie the score at 51 with 7:28 remaining.
Then, after being outscored 28-13 in the first 12:32 of the second half, UTD woke up and went on the 10-0 run to re-establish control, cruising to the 11-point victory.
UTD returns to action Saturday afternoon for an American Southwest Conference match-up at Hardin-Simmons. Game time is 3 p.m. in Abilene.
