RICHARDSON, TX (12.02.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team erased a 13-point halftime deficit and then had to hold off a furious comeback attempt by Sul Ross State Saturday afternoon for a 63-60 American Southwest Conference home win.

The Comets were limited to just 12 points in the opening stanza, making just four field goals, as visiting SRSU took a 25-12 lead into the dressing room at the half. However, UTD opened the second half with a 19-4 run, taking a 31-29 lead on a Jon Hatcher layup with 14:07 remaining. The Comets would extend their lead to as many as seven points in the half, the latest coming in the final minute, before SRSU nearly rallied back. The Lobos would miss a game-tying three-pointer as time expired.

Up 58-51 with 49 seconds left, the Comets watched SRSU claw back with two points, 60-58, over the next 30 seconds, capped by a pair of free throws by Stephen Walker. UTD countered by going 3-for-4 from the foul line over the final 15 seconds, but were still in a one-possession game late. SRSU's Conner Dawson missed a free throw with 1.9 seconds on the clock, but the Lobos were awarded the ball as the rebound went of bounds with just over one second left. Tristen Licon took the inbounds pass in the left corner, but his potential game-tying shot fell short as the Comets held on for their second straight win to open ASC play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets were just 4-of-34 (11.8%) from the floor in the opening half, but remained in the contest due to just four first-half turnovers and a defense that held SRSU to just 25 first-half points. UTD would shoot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) over the final 20 minutes, though, hitting 3-of-7 second-half three-pointers to complete the comeback. The Comets were 0-for-7 from three-point range in the first half. UTD finished the game 20-of-61 (32.8%) from the field and just 3-of-14 (21.4%) from three-point range.

SRSU shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the floor, hitting just 2-of-16 three-pointers (12.5%). The Lobos would out-rebounded UTD, 45-39.

KEY PERFORMERS
Dimitrius Underwood led the Comets with 21 points and 12 rebounds for his first 'double-double' of the season. He wsa 7-for-14 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, adding two blocks and a steal.

Hatcher and Caleb Banks added 11 points each to round out the Comets in double figures.

NEXT GAME
The Comets hit the road Thursday for an ASC road game, traveling to Mary Hardin-Baylor. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Belton. UTD's next home game is Monday, Dec. 18.