RICHARDSON, TX (02.17.18) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team locked up the No. 2 seed from the East Division for next week's American Southwest Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon, thanks to an 86-82 home win over East Texas Baptist in the regular-season finales for both programs.

For the second straight game, the Comets struggled defending a halftime lead, but unlike Thursday night, UTD held on late to complete the season-sweep of the visiting Tigers. The Comets led ETBU, 44-36, at the break, but the Tigers would rally back and even take a lead with just over two minutes left to play.

Down 78-77 with 2:12 on the clock, UTD got a running lay up from Caleb Banks to regain a slim one-point cushion. The Tigers took back a lead with 1:14 left on a free throw by Robby Dooley. Comet sophomore Dimitrius Underwood then took over with back-to-back jumpers sandwiched around a missed Tiger three-pointer to lift UTD to an 83-30 advantage with 19 ticks left. ETBU cut the lead back to one point on their next trip down the floor on put back by Landin Brown, but the Comets pushed teh lead back to two points with 11 seconds on the clock with an Underwood free throw.

The Tigers (19-6, 13-5 ASC) had an attempt for a game-tying bucket in the final seconds of the contest, however UTD freshman Michael Forster rejected a put back try by Tiger Jordan Gosey. Comet Jon Hatcher corralled the rebound and hit two free throws to ice the win.

ETBU took early control of the contest, leading the majority of the first 10 minutes of the game. With the game knotted, 22-22, with just under nine minutes before the break, Hans Burwitz drained his first three-pointer of the season from the top of the key to give the Comets the lead. UTD would expand its lead to as many as 10 points before setting for its eight-point halftime advantage.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets finished the day shooting 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, hitting 4-of-12 three-pointers, and 71.8 percent (28-of-39) from the free-throw line. UTD's 39 free throws was the second most by the the squad this season.

ETBU dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Comets, 53-33, but UTD was able to secure 13 points on 14 Tiger turnovers which was enough to hold on for the win.

KEY PERFORMERS
The Comets used a balanced-scoring attack with Underwood and Burwitz each finishing with 17 points to lead six UTD players in double figures. Underwood was 6-for-14 from the field and 5-for-7 from the line while adding a team-best nine rebounds along with four assists and four steals. Burwitz was an efficient 7-for-9 from the floor with eight boards adn three blocks.

Hatcher, Forster and Reagan Keogh each added 12 points while Banks had 11 points and a game-high six assists.

NEXT GAME
The Comets will open their 15th straight trip to the ASC Tournament Thursday when they square off with Concordia Texas at 5 p.m. in Alpine, Texas.