RICHARDSON, TX (02.08.20) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team has taken over sole possession of the American Southwest Conference East Division lead after an 84-76 home win over East Texas Baptist Saturday afternoon at the UTD Activity Center.

The Comets (now 16-5, 10-2 ASC) entered the week in a three-way tie for first place in the ASC East, but have now knocked off both other former co-leaders in the last three days to sit alone atop the standings with just four games left in the regular season. UTD rolled past LeTourneau, 105-89, Thursday night. ETBU (16-5) and LETU (16-5) are currently both one game back of the Comets in the standings, both now at 9-3 in league play.

Junior Michael Forster scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the opening half as the Comets secured a 39-34 lead on ETBU by halftime. Senior Hans Burwitz then took over the paint in the second half as he scored 13 points and pulled down 11 boards just in the final 20 minutes of the contest to help UTD avenge one of two league losses this season.

The Comets nearly led ETBU wire-to-wire, but the visiting Tigers were not easy to put away in the first half as they clawed back into the game every time UTD tried to pull away. ETBU would take a couple of narrow leads late in the first half, the final coming at 30-29 with 3:31 left before the break, but UTD countered with eight straight points by Forster to pull ahead, 37-30, two minutes later. 

UTD regained a double-digit lead with 14:56 remaining in the game on an Xavier Ferrell three-pointer and the Tigers would get no closer than six points for the rest of the contest. Ferrell closed the win with five three-pointers and a career-high 18 points. 

Forster was 8-for-17 from the field with four three-pointers while adding 10 rebounds for his third 'double-double' of the season. Burwitz finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds, one shy of his career best, while dishing out eight assists. Burwitz currently leads the ASC with 12 'double-double' performances this season. The ASC's leading rebounder, now with 11.0 per outing, has collected 10 or more boards in 14 games this year.

The Comets shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) as a team in the victory, hitting 11-of-22 three-pointers (50%), while making 13-of-22 (59.1%) free throws. UTD out-rebounded the Tigers, 35-25, and forced 15 turnovers.

UTD returns to action Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. road game at Belhaven in Jackson, Miss.