AUSTIN, TX (12.18.21) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team hit a season-low five three-pointers as the Comets were handed a 95-92 road loss to Concordia Texas in ASC play Saturday afternoon.
The Comets (6-3, 3-2 ASC) have now suffered back-to-back league losses after starting ASC play 3-0 and will look to bounce back Tuesday when they host East Texas Baptist. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.
One of the top three-point shooting teams in the ASC, the Comets were 0-for-11 from beyond the arc in the opening half, yet still only trailed CTX, 45-41, at the break. UTD made a surge early in the second half, getting treys from
Luke Kiser and
Hunter Stevens as part of a 7-2 run. Kameron's Pruitt breakaway dunk with 15:50 left to play lifted the Comets to a 56-51 lead.
However, the Tornados (5-3, 2-2 ASC) responded with a 5-0 run of their own and regained the lead for good at the 12:48 mark on a three-pointer by Bobby Espericueta. CTX extended its lead to as many as eight points late in the game before the Comets made one final push.
Kiser drained a jumper with 39 seconds left to draw the Comets within three points, 90-87, but CTX answered with a pair of free throws on its next possession. The two teams traded a free throw each before Stevens drained a trey in the final 10 seconds to pull UTD within two.
The Tornados hit 1-of-2 free shots to push their lead back to three points, giving UTD a chance for a game-tying shot, but a CTX foul put
Hunter Stevens to the line instead of a fast break bucket. Stevens hit the first of two free throws, but the Tornados got the rebound off the second shot to seal the win.
Pruitt sparked the Comets with 25 points, adding 12 rebounds for his fifth 'double-double' in nine games this season. Stevens finished with 18 points,
James Curtis had 16 points, Kiser 11 points and
Will Isaac 10 points to round out the Comets in double figures. Stevens dished out a career-best 13 assists.