MARSHALL, TX (02.06.21) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team led by as many as 18 points in the opening half before eventually falling at East Texas Baptist, 75-70, Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference East Division play.

The Comets (now 5-3, 3-3 ASC) rolled off the first eight points of the game and led ETBU, 24-6, at the 12:00 mark of the opening half after hitting 9-of-13 shots to start the contest. 

The large lead was short-lived however as the Tigers nearly erased the deficit by the end of the period, clawing with a single point, 30-29, with 3:29 left in the half. UTD would hold on to a three-point advantage, 38-35, at the intermission.

UTD extended its lead back to as many as nine points early in the second half, grabbing a 55-46 lead after a pair of Dimitrius Underwood free throws with 13:12 left to play. However, the Tigers scored the next six points to draw back within a single possession and eventually knotted the game, 63-63, with 3:48 remaining.

The Tigers' first lead of the game came on their next possession and UTD would chase ETBU for the remainder of the contest. The Comets managed just five field goal attempts after ETBU took the lead, amassing four turnovers over the final three minutes, including two offensive fouls.

Underwood led all scorers with 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting, hitting 8-of-9 free throws. He added eight rebounds and six assists in the loss. Michael Forster added 15 points and Kelden Pruitt had 10 points.