RICHARDSON, TX (01.08.15) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team hit more than 10 three-pointers for the eighth time this season as the Comets handled red-hot East Texas Baptist, 74-58, Thursday night in American Southwest Conference play.
The Comets (now 9-3, 4-3 ASC) went 11-for-25 from three-point range as they picked up their sixth win in seven games after suffering an early-season two-game losing skid. UTD handed ETBU (9-2, 4-2 ASC) just their second loss of the season after the Tigers opened the year 8-0.
Senior
Rafael Farley had another outstanding performance as the transfer guard hit 10-of-17 shots from the field for a game-high 25 points to lead four Comets in double-digit scoring. Farley was 4-for-8 from three-point range and finished with eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Farley has now scored in double figures in all 11 games played this season while topping 20 points seven times, including five of the past six outings.
Matthew Medell finished with 17 points while
Kyle Coulter had 14 points and
Nolan Harvey had 13 points. Coulter led all rebounders with nine boards as he just missed his third "double-double" of the season.
UTD opened the game with seven straight points by Harvey as the Comets took early control of the contest and never looked back. With 15:55 left in the first half, the Comets held a 17-2 lead over ETBU after a Medell layup, forcing the Tigers' second early timeout. UTD widened its first-half lead to as many as 18 points (22-4) before the Tigers finally found its rhythm offensively. ETBU climbed within nine points, 24-15, with just over 10 minutes to play in the half before the Comets regained control and earned a 39-25 lead at the break.
After holding off a small rally attempt by the Tigers early in the second half, UTD would grab its largest lead of the night with 5:12 left to play as Farley's final three-pointer lifted the Comets to a 68-46 lead over ETBU. The Tigers hit a pair three-pointers down the stretch to battle back to within 16 points at the end of the game.
As a team, the Comets shot better than 50 percent from the field for the second time this season, ending the game 25-of-49 (51%) from the floor. UTD was 11-of-25 from three-point range (44%) while hitting 13-of-15 free-throws (86.7%). The Comets out-rebounded ETBU, 33-27.
UTD improved to 7-1 on the season when hitting 10 or more three-pointers, the only such loss coming at Louisiana College, 73-64, on Nov. 25 to open ASC play. UTD went 11-of-26 from three-point range in the loss the Wildcats.
The Comets return to action Saturday afternoon when they host LeTourneau to wrap up a four-game home stand. Game time is 3 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.
