MEMPHIS, TN (12.29.17) - UT Dallas sophomore guard Dimitrius Underwood recorded just the second 'triple-double' in Comet history Friday afternoon as UTD held off Rhodes College, 117-105, in non-conference action.
Underwood ended the game with 14 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and an American Southwest Conference record 18 assists as he recorded the 13th-ever 'triple-double' in ASC history and second such performance this season. Underwood was one of four Comets to top double figures in the race against the Lynx as UTD shot a season-high 64.1 percent from the field.
Host Rhodes took early control of the contest, but the Comets did not take long to figure out how to break the Lynx' transition defense and snagged the lead, 25-24, on a lay up by Michael Forster with 11:49 left in the opening half. UTD would then shoot 68.3 percent from the before the break to secure a 65-53 lead at halftime.
The Comets' largest lead of the night would come with 9:22 remaining in the game when Hans Burwitz, who led all scorers with 27 points, lifted UTD to a 17-point advantage, 99-82. The Lynx attempt a late rally, drawing within single digits twice in the final six minutes, but UTD would hold the high-octane Rhodes offense to just five points in the last five minutes.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets set new school records for field goals made (50) and assists (34), while recording the second-high field goal percentage (64.1%) and third-highest point total (117) in the program's 20-year history. The previous mark for field goals in a contest was 46, set against Dallas Christian on Nov. 29, 1999, while the previous assists record was 30, set against East Texas Baptist on Feb. 13, 2014. The program record for points in a game is 124, set during the 1999-2000 campaign.
UTD ended the game just shy of the ASC mark for field goals made (53) in a game.
The Comets were 50-of-78 from the field for the game, hitting just 2-of-5 three-pointers, and shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the foul line. UTD has now topped 50 percent shooting in four games this season, including three of the last four contests, and is now averaging 78.7 points per outing. The Comets have scored at least 81 points in each of the past four outings.
KEY PERFORMERS
Underwood joins former Comet great
Kyle Schleigh as the only other UTD player to record a 'triple-double'. Schleigh had 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against Louisiana College on Jan. 2, 2014. Underwood was 6-for-14 from the field, hitting 2-of-3 free throws, adding a steal.
Burwitz finished the night 12-of-14 from the field, hitting 3-of-4 free shots, and added four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.
Jon Hatcher had 24 points, hitting 10-of-13 shots, while
Reagan Keogh finished with 18 points.
NEXT GAME
The Comets continue their road trip Sunday when they visit Hendrix College. Game time is 2 p.m. in Conway, Ark.
