BELTON, TX (12.07.17) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team erased a 13-point deficit midway through the second half but could not hold on for a third straight victory Thursday night as the Comets suffered an 85-75 loss at Mary Hardin-Baylor in American Southwest Conference play.

The Comets used a 14-0 run in the second half, capped by a three-pointer by Curtis Allen, to grab a 60-59 lead on UMHB with 7:32 remaining in the contest. The Cru led UTD, 43-39, at the break and would open up a double-digit lead by the 17:33 mark of the second half. UMHB snagged its largest lead of the night at 13 points with just under 14 minutes left and regained that 13-point advantage, 59-46, at 13:01 on a lay up by Lakendric Hyson.

Jon Hatcher used a breakaway layup with 12:16 remaining to trigger the Comets' 14-point rally. Allen drained two three-pointers during the stretch, including the go-ahead bucket. However, the Cru stopped the run with a three-pointer by Ryan Lang and would outscore UTD, 26-15, over the final seven minutes of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets shot 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the field in the contest and matched a season-high with nine three-pointers in the loss. UTD had five players score in double figures and six players score at least nine points in the contest.

UTD had just 13 assists on 29 made field goals against the Cru, the lowest percent of assisted baskets (44.8%) for the squad so far this season. The Comets out-rebounded UMHB, 37-33, with 14 offensive boards.

KEY PERFORMERS
Dimitrius Underwood led the five Comets in double digits with 16 points, hitting 7-of-20 shots from the field and adding five rebounds and four assists. Allen, Hatcher and Hans Burwitz each 12 points while Kelden Pruitt finished with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

NEXT GAME
The Comets (4-3, 2-1 ASC) will look to bounce back on Monday, Dec. 18, when they return to action for a home ASC game against Hardin-Simmons. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.