ALEXANDRIA, LA (11.25.14) - The No. 19-ranked UT Dallas men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday night, falling to Louisiana College, 73-64, in the American Southwest Conference opener for both squads. The game was played on the campus of LSU-Alexandria as LC's floor was not ready for its home opener.
The Comets (now 3-1, 1-0 ASC) shot better than 52 percent from the field in the first half en route to a 39-33 lead over the Wildcats at the break only to watch LC steal away the win. Senior guard
Rafael Farley recorded his second straight "double-double", finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds, both game highs.
The Wildcats (now 1-0, 1-0 ASC) shot 63 percent (17-of-27) as a team in the final 20 minutes to erase the six-point UTD lead. LC opened the second half with a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Kevin Lewis with 18:44 to play to give the Wildcats a 40-39 advantage. The Comets regained the lead nearly two minutes later on a layup by
Matthew Medell, but LC countered quickly with a trey by Anthony Gaines and never trailed again.
LC slowly pulled away throughout the second half, eventually take a 10-point lead, 71-61, with 2:10 left after a Kevin Cottonham free throw. Farley drained a three-pointer with 1:35 remaining to draw the Comets back within single digits, but UTD could not manage another field goal attempt from that point forward, committing two turnovers in the final minute.
UTD finished the game shooting just 43.8 percent (21-of-48) after its hot start. The Comets was 9-for-25 (36%) from the floor over the second half. UTD was 11-for-26 (42.3%) from three-point range and finished the night shooting 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the foul line.
Farley was 8-for-14 from the floor, hitting 6-of-9 three-pointers, and was 3-for-4 from the free-throw stripe. Medell wrapped up the game with 14 points while
Nolan Harvey rounded out the Comets in double digits with 10 points. Harvey led UTD with five assists.
The Comets return home Saturday afternoon to host Hardin-Simmons in ASC play. Game time is 3 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.
