RICHARDSON, TX (02.09.16) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team matched Hardin-Simmons shot-for-shot from three-point range but fell short in the end, dropping a 78-68 decision to the Cowboys in non-conference action Tuesday night.

The Comets (now 15-6) return to American Southwest Conference play Thursday night when they host Louisiana College. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.

After getting off to a slow start, the Comets would finish the first half 8-for-16 (50%) from three-point range draw within a point, 48-47, at the break. UTD would answered each attempt to pull away by the visiting Cowboys early in the second half, eventually grabbing its first lead of the game, 52-49, on a three-pointer by Ben Smith with 10:15 remaining. Smith's trey would be part of an 8-0 run by the Comets as they secured their largest lead of the night on their next possession, getting two free throws from Caleb Banks.

HSU (now 14-8) answered with a 7-0 run of its own to regain the lead before the Comets made one more push after an old-fashioned three-point play by Reed Cummings followed by two more free throws by Banks to take a 59-56 lead with 5:59 left on the clock. After trading the lead back-and-forth over the next three minutes, HSU took the lead for good, 64-62, on a three-pointer by Caleb Spoon and the Cowboys finished the game 8-for-10 from the foul lin in the final minute.

Banks finished with a team-high 17 points, adding a season-best 10 assists. Dapo Ogunfeitmi was 5-for-7 from three-point range for 15 points as the only other Comet in double figures. Kyle Coulter ended the night with seven points and a team-best 10 rebounds. UTD was 15-of-37 (40.5%) from three-point range as a team for the contest.

For HSU, Duane Hopper led five Comets in double figures with a game-high 19 points. Nathaniel Jack finished with a "triple-double" with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.