RICHARDSON, TX (01.27.18) - With the second half of the American Southwest Conference East Division schedule still to play, the UT Dallas Comets went ahead and stamped their ticket to the ASC post-season with an 82- 63 win over Louisiana College Saturday afternoon in the UTD Activity Center.

The Comets (13-6, 9-3 ASC) solidified their spot among the top four teams in the ASC East Division by building a 14-point halftime lead, then answering each second-half challenge by the Wildcats (4-13, 2-10 ASC). With the win, UTD sits comfortably in third place, one game back of East Division co-leaders East Texas Baptist and LeTourneau, with six games remaining against division foes over the next three weeks. At 2-10 in conference play after the loss, LC cannot catch the Comets for the final playoff spot. 

This will mark the 15th straight season for the Comets to advance to the ASC Championship Tournament, scheduled for February 22-24 at the West Division champion's home court.

Sophomore Dimitrius Underwood led the Comets Saturday afternoon with a 24-point, 12-rebound showing, his sixth "double-double" of the season, adding four steals to his boxscore. Senior guard Caleb Banks pumped in 15 points for his second straight game in double figures, dishing out eight assists along the way. He was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc as UTD nailed eight three-pointers to hold off LC.

The Comets took the lead for good just 3:39 into the game on a Reagan Keogh layup that made it 7-6. The Wildcats cut the margin down to one point several times before a pair of layups and a free throw from Underwood midway through the first period started UTD on its roll. After the Wildcats trimmed the lead to 25-19 with 8:47 to got in the half, the Comets reeled off a 22-10 run that ended with an Underwood layup and free throw that put the advantage at 46-29 just before intermission.

Louisiana College managed to trim the lead down to 10 points to start the second hal after Lashard Powell - one of three Wildcats in double figures - hit a jumper at 12:31 that made it 57-47. But the Comets responded again with a 16-3 run that was capped by a Michael Forster tip-in that gave UTD a 73-50 lead with 6:43 remaining. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
UTD opened the game with a 53.1 percent first half shooting performance (17-of-32), then held the Wildcats to just 10-of-24 shooting (41.7 percent) in the second half. The Comets also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Wildcats, 38-29, and scoring 13 points off 25 offensive rebounds. UTD also forced 12 turnovers and had seven steals.

UP NEXT:
The Comets now must turn around and travel to Louisiana College for a rematch next Thursday in Pineville, Louisiana. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm. UTD does not return home until it wraps up the ASC regular season Feb. 15th and 17th against division leaders LeTourneau and East Texas Baptist.