University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The UT Dallas men's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season and the Chuck Resler Tournament with a 79-69 loss at #11 Rochester Friday night.

The host Yellow Jackets (2-0) started with a 24-16 lead in the first nine minutes of the contest but the Comets (0-1) rattled off eight points over the next minute and a half, including back-to-back three-pointers by Luke Kiser and Kyle Poerschke and another lay-up from Poerschke tied it up at 24-24. 

The teams battled back-and-forth through the rest of the half, with a basket by freshman forward Austin Page giving UTD a 36-35 advantage with 2:20 remaining. UR picked up a basket in the final minute of the period to lead 37-36 at the break.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second half with a 16-2 run to build up a 15-point advantage at the 14:21 mark. They would lead by as many as 25 before the Comets chipped into the lead late in the game to make the final deficit 10 points.

UTD shot 38.1 percent from the field (24-of-63), 9-for-25 from three-point range and 12-for-14 at the line. They also recorded 33 rebounds, 11 assists, one block, 10 steals and 15 turnovers.

UR shot 56 percent overall (28-for-50), 10-of-22 from outside and 13-for-20 at the free throw line to go with 34 boards, 19 assists, seven blocks, eight steals and 18 turnovers.

UT Dallas Notes
- Poerschke, a graduate transfer, led the Comets with 12 points and six rebounds in his first game with the program.
- Sophomore forward Brayden Wright netted eight points in his first career start.
- Page finished with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
- Kiser had seven points, six rebounds and five assists.
- Sophomore guard Thibaut Tagnon scored a career-best seven points and recorded three steals.

Rochester Notes
- Mitchell Kershner led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points, hitting five three-pointers.
- Ryan Algier had 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
- Ross Gang added seven points, five boards and five assists.
- Dan Masino dished out six assists.

Up Next
The Comets will face Fredonia in the tournament consolation game on Saturday at 2 p.m.