ARLINGTON, TX (12.05.16) – The UT Dallas men's basketball team dipped their toes in the NCAA Division I waters Monday night, and ended up getting washed away, 99-49, by the Mavericks at  UT Arlington's College Park Center.
 
UTA (7-3), which was coming off a 77-61 upset of national power University of Texas last week, picked up its sixth straight win, dominating the Division III Comets (1-5) with superior size, athleticism and depth. The Mavs held UTD to just 32.7 percent shooting and nailed 13 three-point shots to double up UTD, which got all the experience against tough, Division I competition it could handle.
 
The Comets, who faced an almost impossible task in trying to work the ball inside against the bigger and more athletic UTA squad, did answer with eight three-pointer of their own and trailed just 53-33 at the half. But the Mavs' depth showed in the second period as both teams emptied their benches and UTA stretched the lead from 20 to 50 points after halftime.
 
Jon Hatcher, who popped 4-of-9 threes, led UTD with 13 points, while Kyle Coulter scored 11, hitting three  of the long-range shots.  The Mavs dominated the boards, as well, out-rebounding UTD, 49-31. Dimitrius Underwood topped the Comets with five boards.
 
UTD also struggled at the foul stripe, hitting just 5-of-17 free throws.
 
The Comets got a Hatcher three on their first trip down the floor, then another from Coulter to claim an early 6-3 lead, but the upset bid was quashed by a 19-2 run over the next five minutes and UTA had a 22-8 lead at the 13:34 mark of the first period. UTD was never able to get any closer again as the Mavs stretched the lead to 20 points by the half, and slowly expanded the lead to the final margin by the end of the game.
 
UTD will return to Division III play on Wednesday with a home American Southwest Conference matchup with Concordia Texas. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm.