RICHARDSON, TX (11.30.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team kicked off American Southwest Conference play Thursday with a commanding 98-59 home win over Howard Payne at the UTD Activity Center.

The Comets shot nearly 70 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes as they earned a 55-26 lead at the break. UTD had the guest Yellow Jackets still doubled up at the midway point of the second half, leading 72-36, with 10:10 on the clock before both teams went to their bench.

Freshman Kelden Pruitt sparked a balanced UTD scoring attacked as he finished the lop-sided win with 13 points, leading four Comets in double figures. Curtis Allen and Hans Burwitz each came off the bench for 12 points while Caleb Banks had 10 points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets finished the night shooting 59.7 percent (37-of-62) as a team, connecting on 9-of-17 three-pointers (52.9%), and 15-of-25 free throws (60%). UTD was 22-of-33 (66.7%) from the floor in the opening half and out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets, 20-13, before the break.

UTD opened the contest on a 10-0 run and held the Yellow Jackets without a field goal until the 15:08 mark of the first half. HPU shot just 33.3 percent (20-of-60) from the field, hitting 8-of-19 three-pointers (42.1%).

KEY PERFORMERS
Pruitt was 6-for-9 from the field and added a game-high nine rebounds as he collected season highs in both categories. Austin Mansour led the Comets with four assists.

HPU's Khyce Randall scored 30 points, accounting for more than half of the Jackets' offense. Randall wsa 9-for-21 from the field and hit seven three-points.

NEXT GAME
The Comets (3-2, 1-0 ASC) return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Sul Ross State in another ASC contest. Game time is 4 p.m.