RICHARDSON, TX (01.03.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team nearly erased an 19-point second-half deficit before running out of time in a 72-65 home loss to non-conference foe Hendrix Tuesday night.

The Comets (2-9) put an end to the non-conference slate with Tuesday's game and will return to American Southwest Conference action this weekend with a pair of home games against West Division squads. UTD will host McMurry Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before squaring off with defending league champion Hardin-Simmons at 3 p.m. Saturday, both at the UTD Activity Center.

With 13:03 left to play, the Comets trailed Hendrix (4-7) by 19 points, 53-34, after HC's Bryce Batchelor capped a short 5-0 run with a free throw. Going to his bench, UTD head coach Terry Butterfield relied heavily on his reserves to climb back and the Comets sliced to single digits, 61-53, on a Curtis Allen put back with 5:33 on the clock. The guest Warriors extended their lead back to 11 points over the next three minutes before  Comet starters would finish strong. With 32 seconds on the clock, UTD clawed within four points after a pair of Reagan Keogh free throws, but HC hit 3-of-4 free shots down the stretch to hold on for the victory.

After a slow start by both teams, the Warriors took the lead for good with 11:54 remaining in the opening half. HC slowly pulled away late in the half before securing a 39-26 lead at intermission.

Freshman Dimitrius Underwood came off the bench for a team-high 12 points while Kyle Coulter added 10 points as the only other Comet in double figures. Keogh finished with five points and a game-high 11 rebounds while Caleb Banks had six points and five assists.

The Comets shot just 31.9 percent from the field (22-of-69) for the night and were 8-of-31 (25.8%) from three-point range. UTD ended the game 13-of-18 (72.2%) from the free-throw line.