RICHARDSON, TX (12.20.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team improved to 4-1 in American Southwest Conference play Wednesday night thanks to an 82-61 home victory over crossover rival McMurry at the UTD Activity Center.

UTD is now winners of four of its last five contests and sit alone atop the ASC East Division standings for the time being. McMurry fell to 4-5 overall with the loss and dropped to 3-2 in league play.

The Comets jumped out to quick lead, using a 10-0 run early in the contest to grab a 12-2 lead with 16:31 left in the opening half. UTD extended its lead to as many as 13 points before the midway point of the period before the War Hawks rallied back. McMurry eventually cut the UTD lead to a few as four points, 24-20, at the 8:00 minute mark before the Comets would end the half on a 15-7 run to grab a 12-point lead at the break, 39-27.

UTD would maintain its double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, holding off any rally attempts by the War Hawks over the final 20 minutes. McMurry clawed back within eight points, 48-40, with 14:59 left to play after a 12-2 run, but the Comets ended the stretch with a tip-in by Kelden Pruitt to ignite seven straight points by UTD. The Comets would slowly pull away over the final minutes of the contest, taking their first 20-point lead at the 1:47 mark, 78-57, on a jumper by Reagan Keogh. UTD led by as many as 23 points in the final minute.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets were able to control the paint in Wednesday's win, outscoring McMurry, 46-24, within the lane and out-rebounding the War Hawks, 46-28.

UTD shot 50.8 percent (33-for-65) from the field, topping 50 percent for the second straight contest, but were just 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three-point range. The Comets hit 13-of-14 free throws (92.9%).

KEY PERFORMERS
Dimitrius Underwood led four Comets in double figures as he poured in a game-high 20 points, along with 12 rebounds, for his second 'double-double' of the season. Underwood was 8-for-14 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line.

Caleb Banks finished with 16 points and a season-high seven assists while Keogh and Kendel Pruitt each added 10 points. Pruitt had a season-high nine rebounds as she finished just one board shy of his first career 'double-double".

NEXT GAME
After five straight ASC games, the Comets (6-3) will take a break from league play Thursday night when they host MacMurray College. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.