RICHARDSON, TX (11.15.14) - Senior Nolan Harvey scored a career-best 38 points while also setting a school record for free throws made in a game as the No. 22-ranked Comets downed Texas Lutheran, 92-77, Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.

In a game that saw the officials call 62 personal fouls, it was only fitting the contest started with an administrative technical foul on TLU for dunking in pre-game warm-up. Harvey missed the first of two free throws, but made the second to give UTD a 1-0 lead before the opening tip. Harvey would not miss from the free-throw line again for the rest of the game.

Harvey ended the game just 6-for-9 from the field, hitting 5-of-7 three-pointers, and went 21-of-22 from the free-throw line as the Comets (now 1-0) had a record-breaking afternoon from the foul line as a team. UTD ended the game making 39-of-50 (74%) from the charity stripe, setting a new school mark for attempts and missing the record for makes by two. The previous record for an individual was 15, set by current Comet assistant coach Travis Carruthers in 2006 and matched by former Comet Carter Nash in 2012. Harvey finished two points shy of the UTD single-game scoring record, matching the second-highest tally in program history.

The Comets controlled the game from the start as Harvey scored the first seven points of the contest. TLU (now 0-1) did rally midway through the opening half to knot the game, 20-20, and against at 28-28 with 7:14 left before the break, but the Comets never trailed. UTD ended the opening half with a 19-11 stretch from the second tie to grab a 47-39 lead at the break.

Despite shooting just 39.1 percent as a team in the second half, the Comets slowly pulled away and eventually widened their lead to 21 points on two occasions. Harvey had 20 points in the first half and added 18 points in the second half, playing just 25 minutes in the contest.

For the game, UTD shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field, hitting 11-of-31 three-pointers (35.5%). The Comets were out-rebounded by TLU, 39-35, but finished the game with five blocks.

Nine new faces took the court for the Comets, with transfer Rafael Farley also finishing in double figures with 13 points. Senior Matthew Medell pitched in 10 for the Comets. Freshman Reagan Keogh led the Comets with 10 rebounds.

UTD returns to action next weekend with a pair of games in St. Louis, Mo. The Comets will face MacMurray College (IL) at 6 p.m. Friday as part of the Cavallo Classic. UTD will then square off with event-host Webster (MO) at 1 p.m. Saturday.