RICHARDSON, TX (01.21.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in a frustrating 2016-17 campaign as the Comets rode a hot start to a 69-54 home win over Louisiana College Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference East Division play.

The Comets (5-13, 4-7 ASC) used a balance scoring attack to earn Saturday's win, holding firm to the No. 4 spot in the ASC East Division. UTD will look for a third straight victory Thursday night when they host Belhaven in a non-conference matchup. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center. 

Freshman Dimitrius Underwood recorded his second straight double-double as he ended the day with 13 points and 13 rebounds, both teams highs. Ben Smith came off the bench to add 11 points as the only other player in double figures for the Comets.

The Comets charged out of the gate, building a 24-9 lead after Kyle Coulter layup at the 10:07 mark of the first half. The Wildcats were able to cut the lead down to 11 points (26-15) with 4:08 remaining in the first half before the Comets rolled off a 9-2 run to take a 35-17 lead into the dressing room.

After a Caleb Banks three-pointer made it a 19-point advantage (36-19) early in the second half, LC scored 10 unanswered points as the UTD shooters went cold and were back to within nine points (38-29) with still 15:17 to play. Smith sparked the Comets off  the bench, scoring eight points over the next four minutes and UTD had its lead back at 16 (51-35) with 11:00 left. 

But the Wildcats were not finished. LC started getting the ball inside and six layups latter had cut the Comets lead down to eight points (59-51) with 5:05 remaining. The Comets, however, closed things out defensively the rest of the way, holding the Wildcats to just three more points while pushing the lead back to its final margin with patient offense.

UTD won the battle of the boards, 44-39, with Smith, Curtis Allen and Keogh combining for 19 rebounds to go with Underwood's 13.