RICHARDSON, TX (12.06.18) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team watched a 16-point second half lead fade away only to rally for a 77-74 home win over Concordia Texas Thursday night in American Southwest Conference play.

The Comets improved to 7-2 with the victory and are now 3-1 in ASC play heading into a Saturday home meeting with perennial ASC West powerhouse Mary Hardin-Baylor. Tip-off for the ASC crossover clash is set for 3 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.

Leading 55-39 with 12:20 remaining in the game, the Comets slowly watched their lead disappear as they could not handle the Tornado press. Meanwhile, CTX got hot from thje field, using a 25-7 run over the next five-plus minutes to take a two-point lead, 64-62, after a Charles Jackson lay up at the 6:45 mark. During the run, the Tornados went 10-for-12 from the floor as a team, hitting a stretch of six straight shots. UTD stopped the bleeding with a Curtis Allen three-pointer on their next possession and later added two free throws from Allen as the Comets knotted the game at 67-67 with just over five to play.

The Tornados would take their last lead of the night, 72-70, with 4:08 remaining on a Phil Meikle three-pointer, but UTD would compose itself at the media timeout and begin their rally back. After more than two scoreless minutes, Dimitrius Underwood drained a pair of free throws with 1:47 on the clock to again tie the game and then collected the rebound on the ensuing Tornado three-pointer by Christian Hammett to give the Comets a chance to regain the lead. UTD took back the lead on two more Underwood free throws with 74 seconds left, setting up a wild final minute full of free throw attempts.

Joe Neal had a chance to tie the game on CTX's next trip down the floor with two free throws, but missed the second shot. Underwood then made one of two free shots to give the Comets back a two-point cushion. The Tornados had another opportunity with nine seconds remaining, but again missed the second of two free throws, this time by Ronnie Hamilton. UTD's Jalen Weber would then ice the game with two free throws for the final points of the night with five seconds left and then stole the ball at the buzzer before the Tornados could launch a potential game-tying shot.

The Comets cruised in the opening half as they snagged a 39-27 lead after shooting 46.7 percent (14-of-30) as a team in the first 20 minutes, including five three-pointers. However, UTD shot just 10-of-25 (40%) over the second half.

Underwood led all scorers with a season-high 29 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor and 12-of-15 accuracy from the charity stripe. He added 10 rebounds for his fifth 'double-double' in nine games this season. He will enter Saturday's game with UMHB just eight points shy of 1,000 for his career and three rebounds shy of 500 boards as just a junior. 

Allen came off the bench for 20 points, hitting 6-of-9 three-pointers, while Hans Burwitz had 11 points and Weber added 10 points.