RICHARDSON, TX (02.06.16) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team used a late surge to hold off provisional American Southwest Conference newcomer Belhaven University for a 86-78 non-conference win Saturday afternoon at the UTD Activity Center.

COACH TERRY BUTTERFIELD'S POST-GAME COMMENTS

After a UTD lead that had extended for almost 16 minutes was cut down to just five points (75-69) with 4:44 remaining, the Comets (15-5) scored five straight points to put their advantage back at double figures with 2:39 remaining and had an answer the rest of the way. The Blazers (2-19) pulled back to within five (83-78) with :24 remaining, but a double technical against the Blazers' Josh Carpenter resulted in a free throw by Caleb Banks that pushed the lead to six. Kyle Coulter followed with another foul shot after a foul on a rebound with seconds left and UTD iced away the eight-point win.

Belhaven has now lost 17 of its last 18 games this season, including nine by 10 points or less. UTD defeated the Blazers, 87-75, a week ago in Jackson.

After a competitive first half with six ties and three lead changes, the Comets finally took command of the game for good on a Ben Smith jumper with :20 left in the first half. Belhaven cut the lead down to three points twice early in the second half, but the Comets went on an 11-2 run that took UTD from a narrow 52-49 edge at 16:05 to a 63-51 advantage following a pair of Dapo Ogunfeitmi free throws at 13:07. A Caleb Banks three-pointer at the 10:48 mark gave UTD its largest lead at 68-54. 

But the Blazers would not go away, cutting the UTD lead down to single digits five times in the final 10 minutes, but never getting closer than five points.

UTD shot 49.2 percent for the game (29-59), and connected on 10 of 24 three-pointers. But Coach Terry Butterfield was not happy that defensively, UTD allowed Belhaven to shoot over 50 percent from the floor (30-55) and connect on eight tres. UTD did own a 18-10 advantage at the free throw line, and out-rebounded the Blazers, 36-27, including 11 offensive boards. 

Five Comets ended in double figures, led by Noah Hill's 19 points,. Ogunfeitmi followed with 16 while Banks hit three three-pointers on the wayn to 15 points. Kyle Coulter and Ben Smith combined for 22 points, each nailing a pair of threes.

The Comets continue their final four-game homestand of the season at 7 pm Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup with Hardin-Simmons. UTD, which has already sewn up a post-season ASC tournament berth, will jockey for position in its final four regular season games, including Louisiana College and East Texas Baptist at home next weekend.




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