CLARKSVILLE, AR (12.04.14) - It didn't come easy, but the UT Dallas men's basketball team fought its way through a defensive struggle at the University of the Ozarks Thursday night to claim its first American Southwest Conference win of the young season, 68-64.

Senior transfer Rafael Farley poured in 27 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and had a key block on the Eagles' final attempt at a game-tying three-pointer to preserve the win for the Comets (4-2 overall, 1-2 ASC), who were in danger of their first 0-3 conference start since 2006. Ozarks, which defeated UT Tyler last week, fell to 3-2, 1-1 in the ASC with the loss.

After Kyle Coulter's tip-in with :48 left gave UTD a three-point, 67-64 lead, the two teams traded timeouts as the Eagles set up for the game-tying shot. With the shot clock running down, Farley tipped a Josh Ferell three-pointer from behind with :05 left and the Comets grabbed the loose ball to ice the win. Zach Helmberger hit a free throw with :03 left for the final point of the game.

UTD trailed twice in the second half of the tight game, but always seemed to come up with an answer for the Ozarks challenges. UTD has not lost a game in Ozarks since the 2005-06 season, and had defeated the Eagles 11 straight times dating back to 2008.

A three-pointer from sophomore transfer guard Alden Miles gave the Comets their largest lead of the second half at 57-51, but a quick scoring spur that included a Ferrell three and a Ozarks steal and layup put the Eagles on top 58-57 with still 6:29 to play. Farley retook the lead for UTD with a pair of free throws, then Keogh scored four points over the next two minutes that kept Ozarks from reclaiming a lead. UTD had a 65-61 lead with 4:03 after a pair of Caleb Banks free throws, but Ferrell again came through for the Eagles, nailing a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 1:59 remaining to pull Ozarks to within 65-64. The Eagles, however, would not score again.

With both teams playing tight defense and neither team shooting particularly well (UTD finished 23-of-55 for 41.8 percent while Ozarks was 21-of-53 for 39.6), the game turned into one of opportunity for both teams. Farley was UTD's only scorer in double figures. Nolan Harvey had nine points, but fouled out with five minutes remaining.

The Comets allowed Ozarks to stay in the game by sending the Eagles to the line for 28 free throws off 23 fouls, but Ozarks was only able to convert on 16. UTD meanwhile hit 12-of-16, and were 11-of-14 in the second half. The Comets hit 10-of-29 three-point attempts, but were only 4-of-10 in the second period.

An up-tempo first half that included 53 combined shots and cold spells by both teams ended in a 35-35 tie.
 
UTD took an early lead when Harvey nailed a three-pointer on its first possession of the game. While the Eagles were scoring just five points in the first eight minutes of the game, UTD raced out to a nine-point lead they first held on a Keogh layup at 8:35 that made it 27-18, and three minutes later on a Banks free throw that put UTD's lead at 32-23.
 
But after going another three minutes without a basket, Ozarks came to life, finishing off the half to tie the score with a 10-3 run. In the last 5:53 of the half, freshman Ben Smith's three-pointer was UTD's only successful scoring chance.

The Comets travel to Tyler for a Saturday afternoon ASC showdown with UT Tyler.