BELTON, TX (12.16.21) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team dropped its first ASC game of the season Thursday night as the Comets fell at No. 19-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor, 79-69, to open a two-game central Texas road trip.

The Comets (6-2, 3-1 ASC) battled with the nationally ranked Cru for most of the contest before host UMHB slowly pulled away late for the victory. UTD will look to rebound Saturday when the Comets visit Concordia Texas for a 3 p.m. league game in Austin.

With 11:33 left in the contest, Luke Kiser pushed the Comets' second-half lead to nine points, 54-45, with a three-pointer to cap a 14-5 run by UTD after trailing the Cru, 34-31, at the break. However, UMHB rolled off a 15-0 run over the next five minutes to completely flip the game.

The Comets clawed back within three points with just over five minutes left with a trey by Donovan Souter, but would not be able to get any closer down the stretch. UTD managed just one field goal over the final two minutes, that a three-pointer by Kameron Pruitt with 50 seconds remaining.

UTD finished the loss with 10 three-pointers, connected on double-digit long-range shots in three consecutive contests and five times in its eight games this fall. Pruitt led the Comets with 22 points and 12 rebounds, recording his fourth 'double-double' of the season. Souter finished with 13 points and Hunter Stevens had 11 points and a team-best six assists.